Unit 2: Flash

There were a number of assignments in flash, mostly building blocks for the final project of the unit. First, we started simple... animating a little Psy and getting him to "dance." After that we started on what would become the final project, an avoidance game. We started with learning how to simply getting a symbol to drop on screen, and reappear at the top. After that we learned how to get multiple simple falling at different speeds, then brought in a player avatar. Next we set up collision and a Game Over screen before finally we randomized the drop locations of the symbols. The end result isn't the prettiest game ever made, but it's a good first try. Featured are screenshots, and a link to the game, playable on a site I created.

Flash Game

Project 2: Magazine Cover

This assignment was much more complicated. We were to make an October edition magazine cover for a magazine of our choice. I chose Electronic Gaming Monthly, and featured Grand Theft Auto V on the cover. Everything but the background image was made in Photoshop, including the bar code. I learned Photoshop to a greater proficiency while doing this project, as well as a few tricks, like how I got the character's head in-front of the title, but the rest of the background behind everything else. I did this by cropping and cutting out around the character, then pasting it on top of the original, whole background. I kept the whole background behind him to patch any minuscule lines or holes made from the edit.

Project 1: Digital Self in Digital World

For the first project of the class, we were tasked to create an image (featured above) in Adobe Photoshop. It was basically supposed to be a mash up of images that represent ourselves, and to demonstrate our knowledge of the Elements and Principles of Design. It's not the prettiest, but it helped me learn Photoshop a lot, which would become important in later projects.

Assignment 2: The Elements and Principles of Design

For our second assignment, we were to find pictures online and then explain the various Elements and Principles of Design within those pictures, such as with the photo below, I explained the following:

Elements: 

Shape: Most shapes in the design are simplistic and easy to understand what they form in the picture. 

Colour: The Soldier’s uniform, like all characters in Team Fortress 2, is simplistic, and almost entirely one colour, red or blue. 

Size: A number of things are oversized, such as the grenades and the helmet, to exaggerate the solder as, well, a soldier.

Value: There is some gradient between the edges of the picture and the centre, the edges being darker while the centre is brighter.

Principles: 

Contrast: Again, with the edges and background being much darker then the subject, they stick out.

Proximity: Everything in the cosplay is close together, the two grenades are right beside each other, and the Solder is holding his Rocket Launcher close to his body.

Through this project I learned how to better explain how a picture is composed, and how to compose one in an organized way.

Unit 1 - Assignment 1: Composition

For the first assignment of the course, we were tasked to walk around the area and take pictures of various things and then explain the composition of those photographs. One of my better photos is featured below, it being a hydro poll with the sun behind it. During this time I learned how to properly compose a picture so that it is balanced and appealing. This would act as an introduction into the Elements and Principles of Design.