p. 1

[close]

p. 2

flash cinematic techniques enhancing animated shorts and interactive storytelling chris jackson

[close]

p. 3

focal press is an imprint of elsevier 30 corporate drive suite 400 burlington ma 01803 usa the boulevard langford lane kidlington oxford ox5 1gb uk © 2010 elsevier inc all rights reserved no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher details on how to seek permission further information about the publisher s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations such as the copyright clearance center and the copyright licensing agency can be found at our website www.elsevier.com/permissions this book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the publisher other than as may be noted herein notices knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing as new research and experience broaden our understanding changes in research methods professional practices or medical treatment may become necessary practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information methods compounds or experiments described herein in using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility to the fullest extent of the law neither the publisher nor the authors contributors or editors assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability negligence or otherwise or from any use or operation of any methods products instructions or ideas contained in the material herein library of congress cataloging-in-publication data application submitted british library cataloguing-in-publication data a catalogue record for this book is available from the british library isbn 978-0-240-81261-8 for information on all focal press publications visit our website at www.elsevierdirect.com 10 11 12 13 5 4 3 2 1 printed in the united states of america

[close]

p. 4

contents 2 introduction vii chapter 1 show don t tell me a story 2 2 2 2 2 anatomy of a story 2 the story structure 4 make every scene count 6 show don t tell 8 find your artistic direction in flash 12 chapter 2 get into character 2 2 2 2 2 casting the characters 18 shaping up 20 adopting stereotypes 25 exaggerating personality 27 assembling the cast in flash 32 chapter 3 give me space 2 2 2 2 defining the space 60 showing the space 68 illustrating the space 79 drawing a storyboard 85 2 building an animatic in flash 87 iii

[close]

p. 5

chapter 4 direct my eye 2 2 2 2 2 2 composing the space 96 drawing the line 99 being dominant 106 having some depth 109 focusing attention 116 simulating depth in flash 119 chapter 5 don t lose me 2 2 2 2 2 2 manipulating time and space 128 understanding screen direction 130 using the 180-degree rule 131 cutting and continuity 142 transitioning scenes 146 building transitions in flash 149 chapter 6 move the camera 2 2 2 2 2 2 creating new worlds 160 panning the camera 167 zooming 172 tracking camera movements 174 parallax scrolling 178 simulating cinematic effects in flash 186 chapter 7 light my world 2 defining the light 192 2 lighting the scene 196 iv contents

[close]

p. 6

2 setting the mood 197 2 simulating lighting effects in flash 200 chapter 8 speak to me 2 2 2 2 2 recording audio 220 lip-syncing dialog 223 mixing sound effects 230 exploring facial expressions 235 posing your character 241 chapter 9 interact with me 2 2 2 2 interactivity in flash 246 controlling camera movements 255 directing the characters 267 enhancing a story using actionscript 271 chapter 10 optimize and publish 2 2 2 2 optimizing graphics 276 preloading in flash 277 using the quicktime exporter 278 export actionscript-driven movies 281 2 index 285 v

[close]

p. 7

flash cinematic techniques enhancing animated shorts and interactive storytelling chris jackson

[close]

p. 8

this page intentionally left blank

[close]

p. 9

introduction this book focuses on the visual design of a flash movie using cinematic techniques camera placement composition motion lighting editing and sound these tools not only illustrate what s going on in a scene but also advance the story and elevate its emotional impact for the audience 22 what2is2this2book2about?22 viii 22 who2is2this2book2for?22 viii 22 book2structure2and2layout2conventions22 ix 22 about2the2author22 x 22 acknowledgements22 xi 22 credits22 xi 22 for2instructors22 xii

[close]

p. 10

what is this book about flash cinematic techniques2maximizes2flash s2animation2and2production2 power2to2create2web-based2animated2short2stories,2interactive2graphic2novels2 and2online2commercials.2from2major2film2studios2to2independent2animators,2 flash2is2employed2to2entertain,2educate,2and2promote2stories2to2their2audiences2 easily2and2effectively.2written2for2flash2artists2and2designers,2this2book2provides22 valuable2insights,2timesaving2practical2tips,2and2hands-on2techniques2that22 illustrate2how2to2produce2and2deploy2great2visual2stories2using2flash.22 flash cinematic techniques2focuses2primarily2on2enhancing2a2visual2story2from2 storyboards2to2the2final2project.2the2first2chapter2lays2the2foundation2to2defining2 a2good2story2and2how2to2visualize2its2structure.2each2chapter2that2follows22 examines2visual2design2components2and2translates2cinematography2techniques2 used2in2traditional2filmmaking2into2the2flash2environment.2using2flash2as2the2 authoring2tool2and2the2exercises2outlined2in2this2book,2a2reader2will2be2able2 to2produce2animated2and2interactive2cinematic2stories,2such2as2online2graphic2 novels2and2webisodes.2 the2book2is2designed2to2walk2the2reader2through2project-based2exercises2that2 effectively2use2flash2to2enhance2their2visual2storytelling2skills.2the2first2section2 explores2visual2components2used2in2stories.2topics2include2how2space,2line,2color,2 and2movement2can2be2framed2on2the2flash2stage2to2communicate2emotion2and2 meaning.2the2second2part2of2the2book2applies2cinematography2techniques2such2 as2camera2movement,2lighting,2and2editing2into2the2flash2workspace.2 in2addition2to2animation2techniques,2flash cinematic techniques2also2discusses2 adding2interactivity2using2actionscript2to2enhance2audience2participation.22 the2last2section2of2this2book2discusses2optimization2and2publishing2tips2and2 tricks.2chapter2exercises2consist2of2practical2applications2as2well2as2experimental2 projects.2each2exercise2provides2step-by-step2instructions2and2tips2for2the22 reader2to2use2in2conceptualizing2and2visualizing2creative2solutions2to2their22 own2flash2projects who is this book for the2book2explores2animation2and2interactive2concepts2and2techniques2for2 designing2great2visual2stories2in2flash.2the2technical2focus2of2this2book2is2on2the2 art2direction2and2use2of2traditional2cinematography2techniques2when2building2 animated2and2interactive2short2stories2in2flash.2although2the2book2covers2the2 basics2in2developing2a2story,2it2is2assumed2that2the2reader2already2has2a2good2 story2in2mind2to2 show 2the2visual2storytelling2techniques2discussed2can2be2 applied2to2entertainment,2advertising2branding 2and2educational2applications.2 viii2 introduction

[close]

p. 11

the2primary2audience2for2this2book2is2flash2animators2and2designers.2these2 flash2users2can2be2professionals2in2the2workforce,2students,2or2anyone2interested2 in2creatively2enhancing2their2animated2stories2or2interactive2projects.2this2book2 assumes2that2readers2have2some2prior2flash2experience.2they2should2have2a2 working2knowledge2of2the2flash2workspace2and2basic2animation2concepts.2the2 chapter2exercises2teach2readers2how2to2think2creatively2and2get2excited2about2 animation2and2interactivity2in2enhancing2visual2stories2using2flash.2 book structure and layout conventions flash cinematic techniques2is2designed2to2walk2the2reader2through2project-2 based2exercises2that2effectively2apply2traditional2cinematography2techniques22 in2flash2to2enhance2animated2and2interactive2visual2stories.2to2use2this2book,2 you2need2to2install2flash2cs42or2higher2on2either2your2macintosh2or2windows2 computer.2if2you2do2not2have2a2licensed2copy,2you2can2download2fully22 functional2time-limited2trial2versions2from2adobe s2website2www.adobe.com 2 chapter2exercises2consist2of2practical2applications2as2well2as2experimental2 projects.2each2exercise2provides2step-by-step2instructions2and2tips2for2the2reader2 to2use2in2conceptualizing2and2visualizing2creative2solutions2to2their2own2flash2 projects.2videos2used2have2been2created2in2the2ntsc2format.2 to2help2you2get2the2most2out2of2this2book,2let s2look2at2the2layout2conventions2 used2in2the2chapters 3 words in bold2refer2to2names2of2files,2folders,2layers,2or2compositions 32 menu2selections2are2presented2like2this:2modify break apart 32 code2blocks2in2flash2are2separated2from2the2text2like2this import flash class packages import fl.video import fl.controls.progressbarmode 32 icons2are2used2throughout2the2book.2here2is2a2brief2explanation2of22 what2they2are2and2what2they2mean 2 2 2 2 cd:2reference2to2files2on2the2accompanying2cd-rom note:2supplemental2information2to2the2text2that2sheds2a2light2on2a2 procedure2or2offers2miscellaneous2options2available2to2you caution:2warnings2that2you2need2to2read book2structure2and2layout2conventions2 ix

[close]

p. 12

all2of2the2footage,2source2code,2and2files2are2provided2on2the2accompanying2 cd-rom2found2in2the2back2of2the2book.2each2chapter2has2its2own2folder.2inside2 each2folder2you2will2find2the2material2needed2to2complete2each2exercise.2completed2versions2for2every2exercise2are2provided2in2a2completed2folder2in2each2 chapter2folder.2as2you2work2through2the2chapter s2exercises,2you2can2choose2to2 manually2build2the2project2or2review2the2finished2example all2of2the2material2inside2this2book2and2on2the2cd-rom2is2copyright2protected.2 they2are2included2only2for2your2learning2and2experimentation.2please2respect2 the2copyrights.2i2encourage2you2to2use2your2own2artwork2and2experiment2with2 each2exercise.2this2is2not2an2exact2science.2the2specific2values2given2in2this2book2 are2suggestions.2the2actionscript2is2used2to2provide2a2solution.2if2you2know2of2 a2different2method,2by2all2means,2use2it.2there2are2many2ways2to2perform2the2 same2task2for2both2applications about the author chris jackson2is2a2computer2graphics2designer2and2tenured2professor2at2 rochester2institute2of2technology2rit 2he2teaches2a2variety2of2graduatelevel2courses2including22d2computer2animation,23d2computer2graphics,2 instructional2multimedia,2and2motion2graphics.2before2joining2the2rit2faculty,2 chris2was2a2new2media2designer2with2eastman2kodak2company,2creating22 and2delivering2online2instructional2training2via2the2web2and2cd-rom.2 chris 2professional2work2has2received2over2252distinguished2national2and2 international2awards2for2online2communication.2his2areas2of2research2include2 user s2experience2design,22d2character2animation,2digital2storytelling,2and2 interactive2design2for2children.2chris2continues2to2publish2and2present2his2 research2and2professional2work2at2adobe2max,2acm2siggraph2and2the2 society2for2technical2communication2stc 2 chris2is2author2of2flash after effects2focal2press,2february,220082and2 co-author2of2flash 3d animation interactivity and games2focal2press,2 october22006 2his2books2have2been2translated2into2foreign2languages he2continues2to2be2a2flash2animator,2designer,2developer,2and2consultant2for2 worldwide2corporations2and2nonprofit2organizations.2he2lectures2and2conducts2 workshops2relating2to2interactive2design2and2flash2animation.2 x2 introduction

[close]

p. 13

acknowledgements this2book2is2dedicated2to2my2graduate2students,2past2and2present,2in2the2 computer2graphics2design2mfa2program2at2the2rochester2institute2of2 technology.2thank2you2for2your2hard2work,2dedication,2and2inspiration this2book2is2for2my2wife,2justine.2thank2you2for2all2your2unconditional2love,2 constant2support,2and2voice2talent this2book2is2for2my2parents,2roger2and2glenda.2thank2you2for2all2your2love22 and2encouragement2to2become2an2artist this2book2has2taken2many2months2to2write2with2a2lot2of2time2and2effort2put22 into2making2the2examples.2i2owe2a2debt2of2gratitude2to2all2at2focal2press,2but2 especially2paul2temme,2anais2wheeler,2and2anne2mcgee.2thank2you2for2all22 your2support2and2advice2in2enabling2me2to2bring2this2book2to2print special2thanks2goes2to2two2of2my2computer2graphics2design2students2at2rit,2 brian2kowalczyk2and2karli2tucker.2thank2you2for2graciously2agreeing2to2let2me2 reproduce2some2of2your2work2with2permission2in2this2book.2use2of2their2work2 is2limited2strictly2to2the2published2swf2examples2provided2on2the2cd-rom credits the2following2stock2images2from2istockphoto.com2were2incorporated2into2 chapter2artwork2to2illustrate2cinematic2techniques:2 3 cityscape at night,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 stay2media2productions,2image2#1564950 3 cowboy in the dusk,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 belkarus,2image2#9481995 3 exhaustion,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 id-work,2image2#10507830 3 forest fire,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 steven2foley,2image2#5211596 3 hard cop,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 bruno2cullen,2image2#7839117 3 light through a door,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 alxr,2image2#8685748 3 metropolis,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 4x6,2image2#9207032 3 railroad track,2illustration2courtesy2of2istockphoto,2 adini2&2malibu2barbie,2image2#8235904 acknowledgements2 xi

[close]

p. 14

for instructors flash cinematic techniques2provides2hands-on2exercises2that2demonstrate2core2 features2in2flash.2as2an2instructor,2i2know2you2appreciate2the2hard2work2and2 effort2that2goes2into2creating2lessons2and2examples2for2your2courses.2i2hope2you2 find2the2information2and2exercises2useful2and2can2adapt2them2for2your22 own2classes all2that2i2ask2is2for2your2help2and2cooperation2in2protecting2the2copyrights2of2 this2book.2if2an2instructor2or2student2distributes2copies2of2the2source2files2to2 anyone2who2has2not2purchased2the2book,2that2violates2the2copyright2protection.2 reproducing2pages2from2this2book2or2duplicating2any2part2of2the2cd-rom2is2 also2a2copyright2infringement.2if2you2own2the2book,2you2can2adapt2the2exercises2 using2your2own2footage2and2artwork2without2infringing2copyright thank2you2for2your2cooperation xii2 introduction

[close]

p. 15

chapter 1 show don t tell me a story animation is all about showing not telling a story but what makes a story good a good story needs a compelling plot that involves appealing characters living in a believable world understanding the story structure and how to visualize it using flash is the topic of this first chapter 2 anatomy of a story 2 2 the story structure 4 2 make every scene count 6 2 show don t tell 8 2 find your artistic direction in flash 12 ©2010 elsevier inc all rights reserved doi 10.1016/b978-0-240-81261-8.50001-5

[close]