Google Sketchup House

For our final project we used Google Sketchup to personalize a house and then create a 3D animation of it. this project overall was very easy, almost no challenges except teaching myself how to rotate objects. I really enjoyed this project, especially for what finished out our animation quarter.

Website Page

 For this - We used 'DreamWeaver' to create a mock website. With this we published a biography about ourselves as well as out 'Elevator Speech' talking about why we should be hired. Then we created another page showing off some of our favorite projects. Since I have not been to video yet I am unable to post something for video. These projects are all located on my blog if you would like to see.

Dog House

This was out second project done on 'Google Sketch-Up'. We created a dog house using our tutorials on 'How to make a house in Sketch- Up', We just created a smaller version with less detail allowed for a dog who stays outside. Using the 'Push/Pull' method and the 'Paint Bucket' tool. We were able to download things to add in, such as the dog, and bush next to his house. This was on of the easier projects we have done, and I enjoyed being able to personalize the house, and add my own design.

Table and Chairs

This project we used 'Google Sketch-Up' to create realistic models of furniture. We began making boxes and using the 'Push/Pull' tool provided to pull the square up. From there we created the shape we wanted using the 'Line" too, and then reshaping in but pushing the in wanted material away with 'Push/Pull'. The most difficult part of this assignment was lining everything up so no matter which was you rotated the image it look as if it was placed properly. Following the tutorials, they made that look easy but you stumbled upon the fact that your chairs always looked to be floating. Other than the floating objects - I very much enjoyed this project for my first time using 'Sketch-Up'.

Bouncing Ball

Process - 

For thin animation, we used photoshop. We used squash and stretch for the process. We made the all bounce over out names by started with our names first. Each movement of the ball was made by a different frame. From there we repeated the steps of moving the ball across our name with stretching as the ball fell and squashing when the ball came back up. 

Name Frame Animation

Process - 

For this project, we used photoshop again. To begin we started with out with the finished product. We typed out name, and added then affect we liked for the end of the gif. From there we duplicated layers and began slowly erasing our names backwards. From there we placed the frames into an animation timeline, reversed the frames, and created an animation of our names being wrote. As you can see this is on a forever loop, being placed as a gif. From here - We have just embedded it into our blog for everyone else to see! 

10 Words Animation

Basic Description -  In Animation, we created a ten word analysis. All of these words in this animation I believe describe me.

Process - We used a series of layers to create each word, and then used the video timeline to create a mini video.

My Personality Type

Recently, we took the Myers Briggs Personality Test. 

In this I learned that my personality type is referred to as "ESFJ". This means that I am an Extrovert, I get my energy from being around people. I am Sensing, I improvise my decisions on past experiences, and I tend to live in the "now". I am Feeling, which means I naturally respond to other peoples emotions and put them first. I am also Judging, so I always plan in everything in advance, and I tend to pay attention to small detail within any situation. Some famous people my personality compares to are the Pope Francis, Selena Gomez, Victoria Beckham, and Vin Diesel.

  Personality Response - 

     I do agree with what the test said about my personality, I believe it describes me very accurately. I am someone who loves to be around people, as well as try to make everything better in any situation. I always want to help and put other peoples problems before mine and I tend to always please people to make them feel better. I tend to avoid confrontation, and hate the idea of fighting and arguing. All I ever seem to want is for everyone to be happy and at peace. I never want to late, and I always have an organized way of doing/planning things. I don`t quite agree with the idea that I am more 'Feeling' over 'Thinking' because I tend to think much more on possibilities of what could happen, multiple situations, and outcomes of things than relying on my 'gut instinct'.

LOGB Test - 

We also took the 'Lion, Otter, Golden Retriever, Beaver' Test. This test showed that I have a 'Lion' personality. This matches up with my 'ESFJ' very well. I am generally a leader in the group. I tend to take charge, and I think everything should be followed in a specific and solid instructions. I can do well on my own, but i tend to prefer a group, but with that. I tend to want to lead the conversations, go with my own ideas without anyone`s input. Once mine fail, that is when I find myself giving in and allowing others to help me. Overall, I very much liked taking these test because I learned more abut my personality. While I knew it was true, I was an interesting perspective seeing my personalty in writing. 

The Bounce of a Ball

Animated - 

             With this project, we learned two of the twelve principles of animation; 'Stretch and Squash' and 'Ease in and Ease out'.
From this, I learned that when using the timeline panel (Animation Panel) everything is to be done frame by frame. You have to repeat all the steps, which at first seemed complicated but got easier. The most difficult thing about the process was trying to get all the frames correctly organized in order for it to look as if the ball is actually bounding.

Wanna learn more about animation and how to get started?  Start here  http://www.digitaltutors.com/learningpath/101-How-to-Get-Started-with-Animation-in-Maya

Learn about the 12 Principles of Animation 

Reconsidering Social Media

           Recently, we took the time to read the article 'They loved your GPA, then they saw your tweet." By Natasha Singer from the New York Times Magazine. The article was both very interesting and very informative. The piece begins by talking how students every year take the time to fill out their collage applications but they never seem to realize that collages are now taking a look at their social media. They then proceed to explain about how when college administrators see these hateful, unkind, rude, and discriminating things - they will not even bother to contact the applicants. Studies then proved that the percentages of colleges checking has been at an increase over the last few years. Finishing the article, you learn that just because you delete something off of social media, does NOT mean it is gone forever, or that someone has not already seen it.

• Interesting Points:

          Some of the most surprising things in this text were that colleges are taking a look at students social media. Before reading this, I had the idea that why were but after learning they really do it seemed more surprising than when just assuming they look at our pages.  Another thing I found very surprising was that you could have a great GPA and a great academic record, but your tweet you posted a week ago, criticizing that girl on the soccer filed could have just ruined your chances. 

• Things I Questioned About the Article: 

          Something that really made me curious when reading this was in paragraph 5, it states "...some may not realize that comments they casually make online could negatively affect their prospects." As a senior in high schools, about to head to college, why wouldn't you think about the impact that rude comment could have on your future? That was one of the biggest questions I had. 

• My Social Media Now: 

           After reading this piece, my idea of social media does not change much because I have always been very careful about what I post, or what I say to anyone or about anyone online. Even when I am texting someone - I make sure to be extra careful because you can not take back words you said, and that could have a very big impact on your future depending on what was said, shown, spread, or shared between people.

Experimentation with Photoshop

Project 1
Skill - Occupancy Tool and Fade Adjustment  

Project 2
Skill - Cloning tool and Magic Wand Tool 

 For Photoshop we learned many new tool, and editing skills for the photos. As you can see underneath all my work, I added the skill we learned in each. If i had to choose a favorite, I would say the Butterfly with the clone tool because the flying 3-D effect on a 2-D image looks really interesting against a white piece of paper.




In comparison, Illustrator and Photoshop are very different. In illustrator, the biggest difference is that you are un-able to make all the edits on photos you would like to add things too. Also you can go bad and undo as many things as you would like, as in photoshop you really have to utilize your history panel. In photoshop manipulating colors and taking away different things is much harder than in illustrator, so I defiantly prefer photoshop over illustrator.

Project 3
Skill - Text Mask and Gradient Tool 

Project 4
Skill - Magic Lasso Tool and Fading Adjustment

PathFinder Tutorial

For my PathFinder Tutorial, I created a movie ticket. First I began with a rectangle, then added two circles to the end. I then "Minus Front"-ed the shapes to add the "Ticket Look" to the rectangle. After I took the line tool, and created four dotted lines, two horizontal, and two vertical. After I selected the "Type" option, in "Ariel Black" and added "ADMIT ONE".  Finally, after putting all of that together, I was able to create a movie ticket.

Personality determined by Typrography

          My original goal for this project was the learn as much as I could about my font; Archer Hairline. Based on my personality, I am considered Emotional, Understandable, Progressive, and Disciplined. After taking this test - "What Type Are You?" I ended up learning that the typography of things, really does show character; Lots of personality, and so much emotion.
When working on this project, my process began with the "What Type Are You?" test. From there I took the time to download the font, and began to play around with the different letters. Our assignment was to diagram all the things we found hidden within our fonts. As you can see, I circled and labeled all the things that were shown within the font itself. As I continued this process, I added the different types of lines that are not visible when typing in programs such as Microsoft Word, or any other software allowing you to type. I used Adobe Illustrator for this project, and within it I used a lot of teamwork. I constantly found myself helping my team, and they were right there for me when I needed help as well.
If/When I ever decide to try this project again, I would try to get my work done faster. This took me 50 minutes to create because I am still getting used to the software, and by the end of our Graphic Design unit, I want to be able to have these basic skills when typing and drawing lines, mastered.
There is nothing in this project that I would probably do the same. I would want to change this whole thing up, new fonts, new sizing, new color. I would want to document how this changes the way my name would appear to another person, on an emotional/psychological level. From this project, I was able to experience new and unique tools, such as the ones found in PathFinder. In conclusion - I really did find this project interesting. I never know based on how words described me, that I would have a font unique to myself. I completely agree with the words I was given. I really would love to do another project like thins again sometimes soon.

Starting off with Illustrator

As reflection to my project regarding our "Creative Color Wheel" project, I believe it was a success. I was looking to create something simple, but something that showed quality work. As this was my first assignment on  Adobe Illustrator, my work was of good quality. As I continue to progress in this class, I hope to become much better when working with this program because I am well aware amazing things can be created using this software. For my process, I decided to just do half of the rotation tutorial because I loved the simplicity of the design. After learned about all the colors, I followed the tutorial, and then added my own colors to make it original, unique to me. I constantly found myself going back and changing things from the tutorial. For example, If you take a look at my color wheel you can see how the middle looks misshaped. It is not, I added two twelve point stars because the way the middle of my color wheel looked just did not fit the image I was going for. The stars added some "Funk" to it, It added a different shape to the bottom of each shape, which is unique. Next time I decide to work with color wheels and Adobe, I will make sure that I take a lot more time because making a really complex color wheel I think would be a lot of fun. I am really impatient when it comes to working with the software, so I will have to take breaks when working on the color wheel so I do not become too frustrated with what I`m working on. I definitely will use my rotation tool to my advantage next time, and the shape tool, because I know it can make some really cool designs. From this experience, I learned a lot. About myself, and this program. I learned that I have a really hard time focusing when I have the idea in my head of what I want and that I cant work that fast on the computer when I am still learning. As just a general idea, when being taught, I would like to work along with a video that actually shows someone doing the project step by step. As it shows in the tutorial, Some things were hard to understand, but overall I really enjoyed this project. 

Graphic Design

What Graphic Design Means To Me 

       When I begin to think of Graphic Design, I think about how often I use it. The creation of just small pictures or even little "logo" drawings of my name. When looking at books, food, or albums, they were all created using graphic design. Weather it be photography, which I love, or just something as simple as a Wordle, we use our imaginations to create something inspiring, for everyone to remember.

One of my favorite connections to the graphic design world was creating Spirit Wear for Frontier Trail Middle School Choir. Every year I was there Hailey (A close friend), and I would sit for hours just discussing and coming up with ideas on how to make very authentic, fun, but simple designs for all our work. Weather it was just a t-shirt with a couple words, or a sweatshirt representing our whole choir, we wanted our school to stand out. As well as making spirit wear, another project I contributed to involving graphic design was F.O.R Club. (For anyone who does not know, it is a club based on volunteering to start a chain reaction and make the world a better place.) Creating poster and small signs - our goal was to always deliver messages in the most fun, unique, noticeable and informative way. Graphic Design plays a big part in that. You want your message to mean something, you want your work to be remembered and without graphic design that wouldn't be possible. How often do you remember a great book, or a great brand just by the words? A lot of times, you remember their graphic logo, or the colorful box showing a picture of children having fun with the product. Graphic Design can be as simple of an idea as a "Get To Know You Wordle" homework assignments. The way the words lay in a customized pattern of colors and different fonts, it catches you eye. It is something you remember and that's why the world of graphic design is so important. 

 To me, Graphic Design is a world of hidden messages only to be understood by the imagination. Some are simple, others are more complex. Some people see different images, or even different messages within the art of Graphic Design, photography, typography, etc. It is a colorful theory, and a process of discovery. It uses the concept of imagination to provide an image that represents the language for living, not just another picture of a waffle on an Eggo box. 

- Skyler Gray 

8/21/15 

https://youtu.be/rUeiZ6c6EBw