Process and Production - Stencil Prints 1 colour abstract type

In this session of process and production with Nick we were to use typefaces to create abstract prints. We were provided with the typefaces Baskerville Bold, Cooper Standard and Courier Bold. I created three prints, one print for each typeface. 

The first print I created was with the typeface Cooper Standard. I wanted to create a rustic loom, making a messy print with the typeface having block colours as well as negative letters as well.  

The second print was created with the typeface Baskerville Bold. I went for a similar style to the first poster, however I made the letters a lot smaller. I wanted to create a shadow effect with the poster being dark in one corner and light in the other creating a gradient like effect. 

For the final poster, I used Courier bold. I wanted this to be different so I decided to create a cleaner look by having half of the poster with a white background and half with a black background. I wanted to create a mirrored effect, therefore I placed the type in the same positions on both sides as if it was mirrored. 

My favourite out of the three was the final poster I created with Courier Bold. I think the opposite halves worked very well and makes the letter forms stand out. 

Researching into Stop Motion Photography

I needed to look into the perfect set up for stop motion photography as I am producing a stop motion for a Graphics Shop in town, as part of Motion Go (a motion graphics club).


I found a good source to find out what information I needed on Youtube, from a channel called"The Slanted Lense".

Lightroom

After watching the video I have a better idea of how I am going to produce the stop-motion piece. Firstly I will be using Adobe Lightroom to take the pictures as this will allow the camera to not be triggered manually, therefore creating a more stable process. It will also allow me to see all of the images I have created together and to spot any discrepancies in the imagery.

Frame rate 

The source also talked about frame rate. Cinematic stop motions are usually done at 24 FPS however, pieces created for Instagram that usually have a more bouncy feel are usually done at 10 FPS, or for a slightly more cinematic experience when still keeping the bouncy feel to the piece, 15 FPS is a good framerate to go with. I have decided that I will go with the 15 FPS, as I feel this will create a fun feel to my piece when still looking professional.

Lighting

Many different lights can be used when using stop motion, However, continuous light is what is used in the video. This opposed to window light that can be unpredictable and take a lot of post production to create a satisfying piece. I have decided to use continuous light as I like the effect it has in the video. I too am planning on using a light pad.

Camera Settings

It is important when setting up the camera for this process that the camera settings are fit for purpose. As I have not used cameras a lot in the past I wanted to find some research on the correct settings to use in order to create the best result. From the source, I intend to use the same camera settings. These where an aperture of 6.3, shooting at a 10th of a second (however this may need to be a 15th of a second if I am working at 15 FPS. I will ask the camera technician) And finally 250 IOS.

I am feeling more confident about the shoot tomorrow after some research and hopefully, it will turn out to be a successful project.

Process and Production - Cinema 4D lesson 3

In the third production session with Jay, we continued to learn about the 3d program Cinema 4D. We were provided with the files that were needed. In order to make the Illustrator files work in Cinema 4D, the illustrator files needed to be saved into an Illustrator 8 format.

I merged the files into Cinema 4d and ungrouped the items then renamed the paths to body and top.
Created two lathes and added body and top into each lathe which created a 3d can. It produced a horrible mess in the middle of the top of the can. In order to fix this, I deselected the top lathe and selected the points tool on the left of the screen. This allowed me to select the middle point and use the arrow selection tool to move the point a fraction to the right, resulting in the top of the can becoming smooth.

We then created some materials to make the 3d model look more aesthetically appealing. Added “reflection (legacy) and fresnel” in the reflectance tab. I then opened “layer fresnel” in the sliders and changed the options from none to Dielectric. After this, I added the label provided in the process and production pack.

Had to change the mapping to cylindrical and then fit the texture to object through right clicking texture tab on layers. After creating another texture for the top of the can, I used reflectance again.
I then added a background and floor and changed setting in in tab dropdown, in cinema 4d tags, Selected compositing.

I then added lights and changed the coordinates placing them in the correct area to light the scene in a nice way. I added another light with the intensity of 50% also which created a soft feel to the scene. Then added a shadow with mapping (soft). This created a nice soft shadow behind the can.

Group the layers from the can and change the null name to can. Then drag this group into a cloner and change linear to grid array. Then it was just a case of changing the count and size in order to distribute cans.

This was the final result of the cans. I find it interesting how this can be created from two paths in illustrator. 3D software is something I want to look into more in the near future. 

After creating the cans, the class moved on to learning how to create a bottle. We went through the same process of using the lathe in order to create the 3-dimensional objects. I created the bottle cap separately. In order to create the glass material for the bottle, I used a material that was already downloaded as a preset and changed some of the settings to suit the means needed. The same lighting was used creating the soft shadow. 

Finally, to finish off this process and production session, we were instructed to create a box. I created a cube and started from there. I the created a material and added the graphics onto the texture layer as I had done on the other two objects. 

I think I have learnt a few new skills in Cinema 4D after this process and production session. I am excited to bring some 3D work into my own projects. 

Process and Production - Showreel

For the final process and production with Sara, our task was to create a showreel out of the pieces we have created this year. I decided to incorporate my self negotiated brief that I did for Calder Graphics as well as I used the techniques I learned in my process and production lessons throughout the year. The music is used for the showreel was produced by a friend.


Showreel 1 from Jack Pomfret on Vimeo.

Business lecture - summary 2

We started by looking at the different types of firms. These included sole trader/self employed, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability and public limited liability. 

Knowing your costs is paramount, ALL YOUR COSTS. You can not correctly gain profit without knowing this. The taxman will asses your profit, and he will take a proportion of it. If you do not keep a handle on your costs, this assessment by the tax man may be bad for you as they will take more money, and it is hard to dispute once the taxman has made an assessment. 

Costs

Costs can be broken into two distinct groups. The first group is the general costs, also known as overheads. This could include heating, lighting etc. Te second group is project costs, which will be the costs related to a specific project. You will have to take into account the time on the project etc. 

Your value:

If you are self employed designer: £35 per hr. 

If as a mac monkey: £18 per hr. 

This value may rise if you merit it, special jobs for big clients, etc.