Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COSC5381C
Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5218 - Diploma of Interactive Digital Media
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4585
Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Course Contact: Kieran Doolan
Course Contact Phone: 99254110
Course Contact Email: kieran.doolan@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 80
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit of competency is delivered in the class Animation 1. The unit covers the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based productions.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFANM503A Design animation and digital visual effects |
Element: |
1 Clarify design requirements. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 With reference to production documentation identify the scope of design projects |
Element: |
2 Generate and assess ideas. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Generate a range of design ideas that respond sympathetically to the brief and provide creative solutions to design issues |
Element: |
3 Conduct research and experimentation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Research aspects of content and target audience characteristics that might influence production styles and techniques |
Element: |
4 Produce draft design specifications. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 In consultation with relevant personnel, evaluate initial concept ideas in light of research and experimentation findings and select the most appropriate approach |
Element: |
5 Finalise design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Present draft design specifications to relevant personnel for review |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will have developed the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based production.
Details of Learning Activities
In class learning activities include, but are not limited to:
• lectures
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• teacher feedback
• online research
• independent project based work
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• workshopping of students’ own projects
Out of class activities include, but are not limited to
• online research
• work shopping
• independent project based work
Teaching Schedule
Week | Class Content | Elements |
1 | Alpha channels and advanced masking - Formative assessment 1 | 1, 2, 3 |
2 | Simple shapes character design - The Simpsons - Formative assessment 2 | 1, 2, 3 |
3 | Summative A01 concept presentations - Formative assessment 3 | 1, 2, 3 |
4 | Project structure/asset management - Summative A01 studio class | 4, 5 |
5 | Summative A01 studio class | 4, 5 |
6 | Script breakdown, timing and animatics | 4, 5 |
7 | Fuzzyard poster design - Summative A02 concept presentations - Formative assessment 4 | 1, 2, 3 |
8 | DVD planning & authoring | 1, 2, 3 |
9 | Summative A02 studio class and progress presentation - Formative assessment 5 | 1, 2, 3 |
10 | Simple DVD overlays | 4, 5 |
11 | Summative A02 – studio class | 4, 5 |
12 | Summative A02 - Character Animatic on DVD – class presentation | 1, 2, 3 |
13 | Photoshop Pen tool exercises - Formative assessment 6 | 1, 2, 3 |
14 | Advanced hair masking - Formative assessment 7 | 1, 2, 3 |
15 | Animated Filigree | 4, 5 |
16 | Studio Class | 4, 5 |
17 | Assessment | |
18 | Assessment |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Galer & Andrews, 2010, Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills, Focal Press |
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. Students are expected to make full use of University library facilities, in researching and developing photographic, digital imaging and graphic design techniques. |
Other Resources
Other required resources include suitable digital media storage such as a portable hard drive or USB flash drive, with at least 4Gb capacity.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessments and a grade for the summative assessments.
Formative Assessment
1. Alpha Channels and Advanced Masking
Demonstrate your ability to make and refine alpha channels in Photoshop. Due before the following class.
2. Simpsons Character Design with Simple Shapes
Draw Bart, Lisa, Homer, Marge or your choice of Simpsons character, illustrating your understanding of structure using simple shapes. Due before the following class.
3. Summative Assessment 01 concept presentations
Present your concepts for Summative Assessment 1, concept art for an animated cartoon character based on simple shapes. Due in class.
4. Summative Assessment 02 concept presentations
Present your concept for Summative Assessment 02, Character Animatic. Due in class.
5. Summative Assessment 02 Progress Presentation
Present your current progress in the Summative Assessment 02, Character Animatic. You need to produce sufficient evidence of your work in progress. Due in class.
6. Photoshop Pen Tool Techniques
Demonstrate your ability to create and manipulate Bezier curves. Due before the following class.
7. Advanced Hair Masking
Demonstrate your ability to do the hardest thing in Photoshop, cut out hair perfectly. Due before the following class.
Summative Assessments
1. Character Concept Art
Plan, develop, design and create a series of high resolution images for print, that illustrate an animation character in various scenarios. Due in class.
2. Character Animatic on DVD
Plan, develop, design and create a 15 sec animatic using your character from assessment one, to realise a series of simple scripted actions. Due in class.
For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Other Information
Feedback:
You will receive feedback from your teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism
Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Course Overview: Access Course Overview