Checkpoint Milestone 1

BASICS 

  1. STILL LIFE drawings x2 

1. 1. • 1x pencil, traditional, drawn live. 

      • 1x pen, traditional, drawn live. 

      • A STILL LIFE is a group of inanimate, STILL objects, that are drawn live (not from a photo) and which don't move. 

        1. • A LIFE DRAWING is a living human or animal, drawn live, typically while they're pausing or posing for a short time. This is NOT the same thing! 

      • 5 OBJECTS is usually good. All objects should be entirely inside the page/frame, with a bit of margin, and grouped together. Show care, and arrange them nicely, with taller objects at the back. Object edges should overlap. 

      • Construct all forms as per Week 2: with light, see-through transparent construction, and straight line technique, smoothing, revising, and refining all lines, before drawing dark outlines or shading. Practise measuring technique, and use a ruler for precise measurement. Construct ellipses inside boxes. Capture progress history of versions (stage 1, 2, 3). 

      • Draw the back edge of the table or surface, behind the objects. 

      • You are encouraged to apply shading and lighting. Color is okay, but not necessary. 

      • Capture photo reference of the live scene, for display for grading. Do NOT use the photo to draw from. 

      • Minimum size per drawing: A4, full page 

      • Capture and finish in Photoshop, as per Digital Imaging Guide, and see basic templates for minimum size, A4 page, 300ppi, 3508x2480px. 

      • Due Week 6  

Checkpoint Milestone 1  (cont.)

BASICS 

  2. PROPS, Assets, Costume/Accessories 

1. 1. • Props are the TYPICAL items handled and moved by a character in any story or scene involving that character, e.g. magnifying glass, tools, lipstick, hat, toys, phone, book, broom, weapons, instruments, pencil, backpack, wand, jewelry, armor, etc. 

      • Collect and display your inspiration and reference (please don't overdo it). 

      • See example student props. 

      • Create a set of 8 to 12 props. Minimum size: 

        1. • 6 drawings per A4 page, 3508x2480px,  or 

           • 12 drawings per A2 page 7016x4960px. 

           • As usual, FILL the page, and larger is better. 

           • See basic templates. 

      • Up to half of the items can be wearable, detachable costume elements. 

      • NUMBER all drawings, clearly and neatly. LABELS and written notes are necessary for props. 

        1. • Use the Photoshop Type Tool, or follow this link to learn NEAT handwriting. 

      • Roughs should be shown for feedback with plenty of time for revisions, prior to cleanup. 

      • Cleanup: props should please be cleaned up, inked, and shaded with 1 tone. Color is okay, but not necessary, please plan your work hours wisely. 

      • Props should be cleaned up with sharp lines; they should be able to withstand a close-up shot of the item, and should be designed to be handled.   

      • (a) All character designs require a set of TYPICAL PROPS for this character that could be used in multiple stories, regardless if you have planned to use props in your scene or not, because props are a normal part of a character's design kit, supplied to a team or client, who are usually developing multiple stories. A prop kit illustrates the character's personality, life and habits, giving story writers material to work with. 
        (b) You are strongly encouraged to use props in your scene.  

      • Non-moving objects e.g. trees, furniture, and pot plants are usually part of the environment (set/background) - these are not props. Please do them later, in Project 3. 
      • Some tracing is okay; it should be modified, and merged with your own work. Tracing over geometric shape tools is routine and okay. 
      • Vehicles are a special-category asset, and large vehicles are a combination of a prop and an environment. If you need one, great! Please design it after basic props, preferably on a separate sheet, because vehicles do not count as basic props. However, vehicles are well regarded for your grade. 

      • Due Week 6 

  3. Project page: 

1. 1. • 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 class notes here.   

      • Make visually appealing web pages. Export JPG/PNG image viewing copies from Photoshop, insert and display images in your Project page at a large size with photo reference, headings, captions and text. 

      • Due Week 6 

  4.  Project GDrive folder and files 

1. 1. • All students must use an approved Photoshop basic template, and traditional students, you must digitize your work, import it into layers in a Photoshop template, crop, correct, and cleanup, according to Digital Imaging Guide. 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 GSite. 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 6 

Checkpoint Milestone 2 

BASICS 

Construction Turnaround of main character. 

1. 1. • VERY IMPORTANT to get this right first. Geometric precision is required, and all students must use an approved TURNAROUND PROJECT TEMPLATE, even if working traditionally. Prepare yourself for many revisions, to achieve accuracy. To avoid errors and poor quality, it is normally required to do the whole project in Photoshop. 

      • You must please work in a single master Photoshop TIF, containing all turnarounds. Expect to use many layers, neatly organized and labelled, in the template's layer group folders. Choose the template closest to your design's proportions. The canvas is normally extended for very wide/tall characters. 

      • FOUR views minimum of the full-body character, in the same (standing, neutral) pose, rotated: Front, 45 Degrees, Side, Rear. All views must be aligned, horizontally, on a single sheet, minimum size: A4 300ppi, 3508x2480px, white background. 

      • Start with only a ROUGH SKETCH - front view - of the character design that was chosen from Project 1, and approved with agreed feedback. You must have a rough sketch to start with! Drag it as a reference layer into the Photoshop canvas. Lower the layer opacity. 

      • Digital folks: for the simplified skeleton basic shapes, please use digital rulers, and Photoshop's geometric vector shape tools. 

        1. • Technical drawing typically requires a mouse, keyboard, and a current desktop version of Photoshop, compatible with SAE's supported hardware and software. 
           • 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. 
             All students must use an approved turnaround master template. 

      • Traditional folks, you must: 

        1. • Have a strong reason to work traditionally, and be approved to do so.  
           • Show that you have a ruler, a sharp light blue pencil, an eraser, a sharpener, math drawing tools, and curve stencil tools, 
           • Demonstrate 1mm precision,  
           • Modify in Photoshop, and print one of the approved turnaround templates first, keep this file in your GDrive, draw/trace over the printout, then import your drawings back into the same modified template file again, later, in the fine digital stage. 

1. 1. • All measurements require 1mm precision 

      • Using digital and/or traditional rulers, measure exactly 1 Head Size in millimeters from the top of of the cranium/skull (don't include hair or accessories), to the chin. 

      • Grid: Using precise measurements, and straight line tools, draw, or modify a template, to create a light tone, (e.g. digital 15% opacity), low saturation, non-photo-blue, sharp horizontal grid, from head to heels, using 1 head size as the basic unit of the grid. The starting line is the top of the skull; this should please be drawn first. The grid lines must be visible on the artwork, on a white background, and should always be displayed. Lines should be 0.5mm or less in thickness (5 pixels @ A4 300ppi). For important body joint lines, which are not exactly "1 head" apart, the horizontal lines should be dashed, and less opaque. Also draw the vertical center line of the body. 

      • See Resource: Technical Drawing & video tutorial. 

      • Using a template grid, you 

        1. • move/free transform/distort the template's guides, head-grid lines, head stack, and numbers to match your character's head size and proportions, and/or free transform/distort the rough character design to fit the head grid; it's usually a mix of both, multiple times; 

           • replace the head stack shapes with your character's head shape; 

           • use the Type Tool to modify the head stack numbers; 

           • use the Type Tool to name the character; 

           • adjust yourself to the existing layer group folder names, maintain and use them; 

           • use dashed lines (required) for all important parts that are not on 1-head lines. Duplicate dashed line layers, or switch them on/off as needed; 

           • With your new grid line layers turned ON:
             Window > Layer Comps > update the Construction Layer Comp 

      • Simplified skeleton and basic shapes: Use light tone, (e.g. digital 30% opacity), low saturation, non-photo-blue, and draw or modify template shapes, to create a complete set of construction guide lines of the character, as a simplified skeleton with basic shapes. Cranium (upper skull), eyeline, jawline, chest shape, pelvis shape, and all joints must be clearly defined.  Complex shapes (head, chest, pelvis, limbs, hands) must be reduced to clean, re-constructable, simplified shapes. Lines only, no fills. Basic shapes only, no final outlines. Use ellipses or other shapes to define joints and widths. All construction guidelines must be clean and smooth, and all simplified construction shapes should make sense in 3 dimensions. 

        1. • A CONSTRUCTION TURNAROUND sheet of SIMPLIFIED BASIC SHAPE GEOMETRY is ESSENTIAL. 

           • Use Photoshop's geometric vector shape and pen tools. Either modify and re-use existing vector shapes, or make new ones to fit your character measurements. See Technical Drawing. 

           • Once you have accurate basic shape layers in the FRONT view, develop each new view one at a time, starting with a low-opacity ROUGH, as you did for the Front view.

           • Duplicate shape layers from the FRONT view and move them to each new view, while keeping them horizontally aligned using the SHIFT key. Then scale and modify the shapes for rotational perspective, using math; See Technical Drawing. 

           • With your new simplified construction shape layers switched ON:
             Window > Layer Comps > update the Construction Layer Comp  

      • Your clean simplified skeleton & basic shapes must be easily teachable. This is the first priority of a turnaround. A construction formula must be perfectly re-constructable by a junior artist who is posing your design, and needs to copy your measurements and size ratios mathematically and precisely, on schedule. 

        1. • If you are the type of artist who draws outlines straight away without construction, you must reverse-engineer your design to create a step-by-step, industry-friendly construction method, with basic shapes. 

           • A CONSTRUCTION TURNAROUND sheet of SIMPLIFIED BASIC SHAPE GEOMETRY is ESSENTIAL. 

      • Functionality: All characters require a fully articulated posable/functional/bendable design, with body, chest, pelvis, limbs, joints, feet and hands, all of which must be fully bendable and posable. Hands, animal paws, tentacles, etc. must all be of good size and length for clear functional posing, e.g. a mitten with at least one main knuckle line and bendable, opposable thumbs. The face will need an eyeline, centreline and jaw. 

        1. • Completely-posable facial details and fingers are added later, when preparing for inking. 

           • As you were informed in your previous project: No masks of any kind, unless they come off quickly, or are transparent. This includes sunglasses. Facial expressions must be clear on main characters.  

      • Height minimum 3 Heads, upright body, bipedal (2 legs). 

      • Use a sharp tip e.g. 0.5mm (5 pixels @ A4 300ppi), especially on details. 

      • All poses, body parts, and lines are required to be precisely aligned, to 1-millimeter accuracy, horizontally and vertically, across all 4 views. Keep re-measuring and revising, until it is completely correct. Smooth all lines. 

      • Simplified costume guide lines may be drawn in a warmer color over the cool blue simplified skeleton lines and basic shapes. Only one view requires costume construction lines - 45 is best, front is okay. 

      • Use good / recommended reference (see folder). Your design must be commercially viable for a lead character.  

        1. • For artists who draw tons of detail, you must discipline yourself to produce designs that are no more detailed than lead characters from high-budget feature films, in your chosen target medium (2D, 3D, or Stop Motion). 
           • For early learners, please measure and follow reference, precisely. 
           • For people who struggle with basic drawing, tracing over a reference layer is strongly recommended. 

      • Work in the same, single project file for everything:
        Charactername-0-AllTurns-Master-vhero.tif
        and develop the Construction layers over the low-opacity rough thumbnail outlines, modifying both as needed. 

      • With your new simplified construction shape layers switched ON: 
        Window > Layer Comps > Update the Construction layer comp. 

      • Regularly Save your master (main) Photoshop project file, 

        1. • Charactername-0-AllTurns-Master-vhero.tif 

           • Yes, that's a zero 0, not an O. 
           • Regularly make copies into a +backup subfolder with progress history of version numbers.  

      • Photoshop > File > Export > Export As 

        1. • CharacterName-1-Construction-Turnaround    (JPG/PNG)

           • A CONSTRUCTION TURNAROUND sheet of SIMPLIFIED BASIC SHAPE GEOMETRY is ESSENTIAL. 

      • See Example Turnaround Project Folder - Roxy Rocket. 

        1. • For feedback and error checking, supply link to your project folder.  

      • Important: Seek feedback, revision, and approval of Construction Turnaround, before Inking. 

      • See Technical Drawing & video tutorial. 

      • Tracing is okay; it should be modified, and/or merged with your own work. Tracing over geometric shape tools is routine and okay. 

      • Due Week 7 (Project Week) 

ADDITIONAL REQUESTS - stretch goals for advanced students 

1. Dynamic Full-Body Poses Model Sheet 

   1. • Multiple full-body poses with action and acting. Cover extremes of all basic emotions: joy, anger, fear, and sadness, a few complex emotions, and the acting/action required for your story. Use significant changes of (a) line of action and (b) shape.
        Most poses and expressions should be at a 22 to 45 degree angle, not 0 or 90 degrees. Low and high camera angles must be covered. Use some "heroic" low angles. Lead characters must be able to have status and power in compositions. 

      • Basic useful actions are walk, run, jump, combat, climb, throw, 

      • You must use dynamic posing reference. See Recommended References and Week 3 dynamic posing. 

      • Due Week 8 

2. Dynamic Facial Expressions Model Sheet 

   1. • Either mid-shots (chest up) or close-ups. Cover extremes of all the basic human emotions: joy, anger, fear, and sadness, a few complex emotions, and the acting/action required for your story. Use significant changes of (a) line of action and (b) shape. 
        Most poses and expressions should please be at a 22 to 45 degree angle, not 0 or 90 degrees. Low and high camera angles must be covered. Use some "heroic" low angles. Lead characters must be able to have status and power in compositions. 

      • You must use dynamic expression reference. See Recommended References. 

      • Due Week 8  

Poses and Expressions note: 

As well as covering a complete range of the basic human emotions and actions please plan poses and expressions to suit your Storyboarding Project 3.  

When posing, remember your scene/story requirements: 

• The character should have a clear, interesting motive, and be engaged with an interesting problem, task, or activity. This is a storytelling scene, and must please include emotion. The character's attitude should be expressed with significant changes of body pose and expression. Make your scene more engaging by escalating the character's problems, and/or their reactions. What does the character want? Why? What do they do, to get what they want? Do they fail, succeed, or both? 

3. Fine detail shape construction guide and style guide, 

1. 1. • with proportion measurements, style guide rules (e.g. line thickness), process and method. This can be done as step-by-step sheets and/or body part detail breakdowns. Train an imaginary team of artists. For additional challenge, the team speaks limited English. See Felos Construction, Galaxandra Construction, Crash Nebula Style Guide Part 1, Crash Nebula Style Guide Part 2, for examples.  

      • Due Week 8