Hi there, this is my last post for this semester and it is a video project. The concept was to produce a video to sell a building.

Firstly I created a script and a series of storyboards (not shown on this blog). I wanted to have a narrator a la the BBC programme "Top Gear" with Jeremy Clarkson. Another student Chris volunteered for this part. I then shot the footage with my now rather old Sony digital video camera, using a tripod. I did some tentative location shots previously with a hand held compact camera, but camera shake was too obvious.

I then edited the video in Camtasia, which isn't great. It is very hard to be accurate on your cuts as you cannot split the footage frame by frame. I recorded the intro and conclusion on Audacity and overlaid a cheezy soundtrack; the project is meant to be a kind of pastiche.

Uploading the video onto a server caused the most problems. Firstly as a avi file, my project was too big for my allowance on Viddler. I tried saving the project as a wmv file, but the soundtrack was of a terrible quality. Eventually I saved the project as a flv file which was considerably smaller and didn't lose too much quality. I tried several times unsuccessfully to upload this to Mediamax, and have just now successfully uploaded it to Viddler. I then copied the code to embed into my blog, so fingers crossed it will work!!

Photoshop Screencast

This is a screencast exercise using Camtasia to record a short photoshop tutorial. An audio track was then recorded after, giving audio instructions as to what is on the screen. Some zoom effects were added, plus an introduction slide and a slide at the end, with an audio introduction and conclusion added, which were recorded in Audacity. A small section of soundtrack was also recorded to go with these slides. Finally transistions were inserted before and after the tutorial. The files was then exported to a wmv file and uploaded onto viddler.com. The embedded code was then copied and pasted into this posting. so hopefully when I publish this post you will be able to see my screencast in a player.

PHOTOSHOP PODCAST

This was an exercise to create a podcast containing design tips and tricks for Photoshop (at an elementary level). The voice was recorded using Audacity and was edited together with a Queen track "Flash" (which I have also used before). The two tracks were then compressed down to one channel and exported as an MP3.

The MP3 was then uploaded to my file manager in Mediamax as a host service and transferred to the Hosted folder. Then the URL was copied into Odeo, a podcast service and placed in my podcast folder which is then added to the play list in the audio player on the left hand side of this blog.

FLASH MX Audio File

Taking the mind map further, I downloaded the theme track from "Flash Gordon" by Queen, a little cliched some may think, but I think the bass line adds a unique tension to the audio file which I think works well for this project. I then recorded my voice over and edited the two tracks together in Audicity. The two tracks were then mixed down to one and exported to a MP3 file.

I then uploaded the MP3 file to Divshare and embeded the code here to this posting.

Flash MX Audio Mind Map

This is my Mind Map for the audio exercise for Flash MX 2004. The actual sound recording / MP3 file will follow later.

Construction Banner Ad Interview

An interview was researched, written and conducted with the client to ascertain approval on the concept for the banner ad. It was recorded and edited using Audacity. A seperate sound effects track (construction noise) was laid over the top and mixed down to a single track when exported as a MP3 file.

The MP3 file was then uploaded onto Divshare and the embed code has been copied onto this site. The code is very long, hopefully it will work.

MIND MAPPING

This was taking the brainstorming idea further to create a mind map. The exercise was to create a mind map for the design of a banner for a construction company for their blog site. With freehand I wrote/drew key words and concepts which sprang to mind. I then copied this using bubbl.us After this was completed I used print screen to copy the image into photoshop, where it was saved as a gif file an then uploaded onto this blog.

Brainstorming & Jeep Ad

This was a brainstorm exercise. Working in a group we discussed various ideas to put together a poster ad for Jeep aiming it at various sports people. Words such as: adventure, extreme, excitement, luxury, power, image, survival, cross terrain were triggered. We then pursued the idea of 'image' and what image owning a Jeep displays. This was broken down further with ideas of: wealth, masculinity, strong, power, adapable, survival-all etc.

We then as a group took an idea of a sport/hobby to develop further, others in the group chose desert/mountain biking, kayaking in wild water etc. I chose fishing as a sport and taking your jeep from the city during the week to the coast for some wild rock fishing, indicating that you can take your jeep anywhere.

TAFE Advert - Mountaineering concept

Using an image of a climber reaching a mountain summit suggests success, an achievement, both as an individual and in business. The overt message is that hiring a TAFE digital media graduate will help your company reach greater success. The underlying message is that the TAFE grads are as resourceful and determined as you (the employers) are.

I used dark blue for the text to balance the light blue of the sky, but also to compliment the dark blue in the TAFE logo. In psychology of colour, blue indicates truth, dignity, power, trust, reliability and belonging, so the use of this colour indicates that the message and text of this ad can be relied upon.

Please click here to listen to a description of my concept for this ad.

Meg's second presentation

Here is my third attempt at uploading this presentation, I sincerely hope that it works this time, or else I will become seriously cross.

Meg's first presentation

Hi this is my first upload onto my first blog site.