During this module, the visual responses have benefitted from a synthesis between each brief. Though each brief required a distinctive outcome, the related themes and processes were most complimentary; the development I made in one brief would also contribute to the others.
Though I had produced some minimal animations in past, the module presented the opportunity to make something more ambitious. One of the earlier workshops involved producing a large amount of collages in response to our chosen themes relating to our author, at first I found this process a departure from what I'm usually comfortable with, but in hindsight it was a highly useful stage of development. If I had used collage more often during the module, I am certain that the resolved pieces would have a more satisfying aesthetic.
I enjoyed preparing work for two distinct processes, though by reducing the amount of actual movement in the animation I was able to reuse imagery developed during print.
Much of the latter part of the module was mired with error. I experienced most of these issues in the print room, where I would repeatedly produce inexplicably poor quality prints. By prioritising the need to create prints of decent quality I over-looked many errors, such as the print designs becoming misaligned when folded into book-covers. I am disappointed that I was unable to test the prints on a wider variety of materials or even trying to introduce additional colours. Unfortunately I lacked the time to apply the designs to additional products, such as t-shirts.
Disappointingly in both the animation and prints, I have made total use of purely digital tools, which has caused me to fuss over minor aesthetic qualms and generally waste time. In terms of aesthetic, the final digital designs are far less communicative of the intangible themes of Agatha Christie books than the earlier collages completed in the visual journal. Some earlier plans for the briefs involved making six animated stings and book covers, unfortunately I bailed on this idea once I failed to produce a satisfying design for the book 'An Appointment With Death'. I was also unable to make my animations loopable, as I had originally intended, due to my decision that animated stings benefit from a more solid structure such as a title card.
The volume of research undertaken at the beginning of the module greatly enhanced my understanding of the themes and visuals associated with the authors. Upon choosing Agatha Christie, I found that reading her books were far more evocative than any amount of second-hand biographical trivia. My understanding and application of halftone has also improved, I can now reliably use it to create the illusion of tone and shade. Through frequent failure in the print room, I have learned a great deal about using time and equipment efficiently. By establishing a synthesis between briefs I have reused assets efficiently for differing purposes, this has helped to reduce the workload and create a pleasing uniformity in both animation and print. My technical understanding of After effects has vastly improved as a result of the workshops and has enabled me to be more ambitious with my animations. My responses to the module have benefitted from my attendance, as well as my inclination to remain in collage for longer periods of time. I have also found that during this module I have been more open to both formal and informal peer criticism as well as frequently assisting others with the use of software.
Upon the opportunity to revisit the module I would definitely attempt to moderate my use of digital tools. Producing line art seemed to become tiresome and disconnected on screen, while the quick sketches in the visual journal maintained a certain energy and looseness. In addition, I should have used digital prints to continually test visual concepts and check that the designs worked when folded around a paperback. The animations made primary use of photoshop, this seemed to cause many problems that might have been resolved had I used After Effects. I would have had a less arduous time if I had simply created posters, thus simplifying the format and making the scale more flexible. I soon discovered that it was difficult to precisely plan the amount of time I spent in the print room, as the many problems that arose tended continuously change my plans.
To conclude, this module improved my ability to prepare imagery for multiple distinctive processes, as well as refining the manner in which I use digital tools. Broadening my understanding of animation has made me eager to apply further in future, and even though this particular experience of screen print was a dramatic experience I am not discouraged from using it more.
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