During this process of
"understanding" applications I have established a system for learning a
program... The system is quite simple. Understand. Create. Implement.
UNDERSTAND
Start at the first menu option (usually the "file" option) and starting at the
top go through the menu, learn what each command means. This will familiarize you to the
program, but don't spend too much time on each topic, just remember the main idea.
CREATE
In order to "learn" the program you must have a project to work on, a goal or
dream to complete, and the under- standing that what you eventully produce must first be
prepared, and outlined on paper (or static medium of your choice)
IMPLEMENT
Now you are ready to implement your idea. Based on your program indoctrination and the
project goals search the program's commands thoroughly to achieve your desired effects
solve your implementation problems.
Good luck and have fun - it is very
fun if you have the correct mind set.
EXAMPLE
walk.html
This project started out from
reading the scripted over and over, all four gospels, and determining the actual
scenario - noting the important events and overall "mood."
Once i thoroughly understood the
scene i created an outline of events from the notes. Then created a story line which had
nothing to do with the technical issues involved. (you must remember to separate stories
from computer abilities)
Once i was happy with the visual
interpretation outlined in the "story board" i hand sketched some of the
important elements, such as layout and imagery. Since this project involved
frame-by-frame
animation i determined that i needed some sort of visual reference for the walking
figures. So i purchased a book which details the motion involved in human anatomy. From
this book i established a "base" walking figure through a series of hand drawn
pictographs.
Then i set up a figure in my
illustration software which i could manipulate to correspond to the major movements of the
body.
From here it was a simple matter of
spending days moving each body part to emulate the human walk, bend, lift, turn, pull and
push.
Once all the "dirty work"
was out of the way i ported the renderings to flash and established what i was
willing to portray from the original story board. it is at this point where i realized that
this was a big project - so i streamlined the original story to only portray the march of
Christ to the cross. (Rather than put in the other 2 crosses)
Now that the images are established
and the second review of the story board has proved that alot of what i originally
intended was simply "too much" i began the process of implementing
my
streamlined story in flash.
While in flash i determined that
there were some additional "unforeseen" elements which needed to be created -
this was due to the nature of creating... you always miss something during the concept
development process.
This is due to the nature of concept
development - (the delicate balance between feasibility and reality - which by the way is
the critical balance between experience and determination) Determined I was.
The project continued, this was due
to a fortunate juncture in my life where i had a large chunk of time to devote to
"something." Creating takes time.
The rest of the production process
involved a large amount of learning and lack of sleep. Once your started on a decent
project and start to see results, you become driven by the project. It is the nature of
humans to desire completion. It is the materialization of a desire. It is the driving
force behind all great undertakings.
God had a plan to unite man with
himself... forever. Christ was his application.
Read the Gospel of
John.
Acknowledgements:
I have been in the graphics industry
for 8 years and have mastered quite a few programs including
Photoshop, quark, illustrator, freehand, PageMaker. I feel that these instructions are
sound principals for administering the learning of applications and the example provides a
sound project creation process. It is my desire that they will be incorporated into
learning process of the individuals reading this document. If there are any suggestions to
the "bettering" of the process, please send your suggestions to mike@gieson.com
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