T361 FLASH FOR GAMES AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA CALENDAR
Please note this is a general timeline. I will sometimes introduce things quite ahead and out of sequence or spend more time on one topic based on the pace and needs of the class. There will be repetition. Repetition is how you REALLY learn something (practice right?). Feel free to skip ahead to topics, but make sure you take time to review current material.
All of the Lynda tutorials found under Flash Professional CS5 Essential Training
http://ittraining.iu.edu/lynda
TUTORIALS
General notes:
Remember, we are bringing the expressiveness of the material world into the 1's and 0's of the digital. Sometimes we have to exaggerate for effect!
Line, Shape, Color
Basics of design are line, shape and color. Think about how these are expressive and communicative!
Convert lines to fills so you can erase or pull and shape them with the selection tool. This creates expressive lines.
Use primitives to help with drawing, but make sure to pull and shape. How do shapes express through form and proportion? A cardboard box is not an exact cube, does it sag or bulge with contents?
Highlight and Shadow
Create the impression of depth in a flat, 2D vector world! Try to imagine the light source and 3D shape in your mind's eye. Try to shape H/S to conform to what you imagine the 3D shape would be lit by the scene. Look at things in the real world as examples or images online. Be expressive with H/S!
Movement or the Dynamic Dance of LIfe!
Set your frame rate and leave it. For web it used to be 15-18, but now its 18-24. If it's a simple animation 30 fps works as well). You adjust timing by adding or removing frames by moving keyframes. Timing is an art, make sure your work is peppy, not sluggish! How can you show the ENERGY of life?
Use the 12 principles to help you think about how movement is expressive, engaging and communicative. How do you simulate movement to speak to people? Think and look at matter (people and objects) in the material world. How do solids, liquids and gasses have weight, volume and mass? How do the 12 principles help with inertia (the resistance of any object to a change in its state of motion or rest), friction or gravity? How about the quality of the movement of matter, such as hair, one's tummy or a rigid bowling ball?
Interactivity Chapter
Social
What does it mean to participate, to collaborate? What are groups of individuals? What is community?
Be a Leader, an Innovator... Imagine, Invent, Innovate!
Remember, your first inclination to do something is often shared by others or is influenced by current practice. Often, clients (or professors...) are looking for innovation beyond this. On Top Chef they may do something traditional or common practice, but with a TWIST or they DECONSTRUCT it. Think about how you can take your work at least one step beyond the expected or the status quo. This is how you make a name for yourself in whatever you do. What will you be known for?
DESIGN, INTERACTION and ANIMATION LECTURES:
DESIGN BASICS: Line, Shape, Color
LIGHT- H/S or Hightlight and Shadow
ANIMATION
12 PRINCIPLES
DESIGN TIPS FOR WEB INTERFACES
FLASH INTERFACE AND TECHNIQUE:
THE PENTOOL DEMYSTIFIED
INVERSE KINEMATICS: THE BONES OF THE THING
EXPORTING VIDEO from FLASH
CINEMATIC TECHNIQUE
CODE:
BASICS OF FILE SETUP, ACTIONS, PANEL, TRACE ACTIONS, VARIABLE NAMING, ETC.
VARIABLES
AND TRACE ACTIONS
FUNCTIONS
CONDITIONALS
LOOPS
EVENT LISTENERS
CREATING OBJECTS
SOUND
WEEK 1
Day 1/
Introductions
Flash Interface
Day 2/
Flash Interface
Assignment:
Watch the following videos
1. Getting to Know Flash
2. Drawing Basic Shapes
WEEK 2
Day 1/
Graphics and Text
Design Basics
3. Moving Beyond Basic Shapes
Day 2/
Graphics and Text, Action Scripting
Design Basics
4. Working with Layers and the Timeline
Visual Assignment 1 Due
WEEK 3
Day 1/
Graphics, Layers and Symbols, Action Scripting
Design Basics
5. Working with External Images and the Library Panel
Read and Complete Handout
Day 2/
Graphics, Layers and Symbols, Design Tips, Action Scripting
Design Basics
6. Working with Text and Fonts
Read Handout, Assignment TBA
WEEK 4
Day 1/
Graphics, Layers and Symbols, 12 Principles, Action Scripting
7. Using Graphic Symbols
Day 2/
Graphics, Layers and Symbols, 12 Principles, Action Scripting
8. Creating Frame-by-Frame Animations
Visual Assignment 2 Due
WEEK 5
Day 1/
Animation, Action Scripting
9. Using Shape Tweens
10. Working with Motion Tweens and the Motion Editor
Day 2/
Animation, Action Scripting
11. Fine Tuning Motion Tweens
Visual Assignment 3 Due
WEEK 6
Day 1/
Animation, Action Scripting
12. Adding Inverse Kinetics with the Bone Tool
Day 2/
Animation, Action Scripting
13. Creating Classic Tweens
Visual Assignment 4 Due
PROJECT I PROPOSAL AND STORYBOARD (5 pts) DUE
WEEK 7
Day 1/
Animation, Action Scripting
Day 2/
Project I DUE (20pts)– interactive character, scene, animation, music video, or fun audio-visual instrument
WEEK 8
Day 1/
MID PROJECT DESIGN ELEMENTS (5 pts) and FINAL MID PROJ. PROPOSAL (5 pts) AND STORYBOARD (5 pts) DUE
Animation, Action Scripting
Day 2/
Animation, Action Scripting
YOU ARE HERE>>>WEEK 9
Day 1/
Animation, Action Scripting
Day 2/
Animation, Action Scripting
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SPRING BREAK!!!
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WEEK 10
Day 1/
FEEDBACK MID PROJECT
Animation, Action Scripting
Day 2/
Class will not meet officially, however this time should be used to work on MidProject. Please plan to use the lab and get feedback from classmates on your work!
WEEK 11
Day 1/
MID PROJECT DUE (35 pts)
In-class Critique
Day 2/
Web Interface and Game Design
YOU ARE HERE>>>WEEK 12
Day 1/
Web Interface and Game Design
Day 2/
Web Interface and Game Design
WEEK 13
Day 1/
Web Interface and Game Design
Day 2/
Project III Due – Open Design (25 pts)
This can be a motion graphics, animated piece or a simple interactive element, which can be a component of the final project.
WEEK 14
Day 1/
PROPOSAL (5 pts) AND FLOWCHART (5 pts) DUE
Sound and Video in Flash, Optimizing and Publishing
PROPOSAL- A concise 1 or two paragraph summary of the project intended as a promotional tool.
It describes the project in an exciting way and is used to pitch to sponsors/funders.
What is it? Who is it for? How does it work? ETC.
Include a couple sentences about your target audience and how your work with appeal to and reach them.
Include 3-4 links of similar successful pieces or elements of inspiration (either conceptual or aesthetic).
Day 2/
FINAL PROJECT DESIGN ELEMENTS ( 5 pts) DUE
Sound and Video in Flash, Optimizing and Publishing
WEEK 15
FREE WEEK
Day 1/
OPEN LAB/FEEDBACK FINAL PROJECT
Day 2/
OPEN LAB/FEEDBACK FINAL PROJECT
WEEK 16
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
FINAL PROJECT DUE (50 pts)
