Course Title: Digital Compositing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Digital Compositing

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC2193

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015

COSC2436

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Viet3 2007,
Viet1 2008,
Viet3 2008,
Viet1 2009,
Viet2 2009,
Viet3 2009,
Viet1 2010,
Viet2 2010,
Viet3 2010,
Viet1 2011,
Viet2 2011,
Viet3 2011,
Viet1 2012,
Viet2 2012,
Viet3 2012,
Viet1 2013,
Viet2 2013,
Viet3 2013,
Viet1 2014,
Viet2 2014,
Viet3 2014,
Viet2 2015

Course Coordinator: Dr Shaun Wilson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9825

Course Coordinator Email: shaun.wilson@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 7.3.24

Course Coordinator Availability: email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite courses before you commence this course.

Note it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For your information: RMIT Course Requisites policy


Course Description

Through theory and practice this course will introduce you to the art of Digital Composting, and Digital Special Effects. Working with digital video, animation, and digital still imagery, and using a variety of post-production softwares (which may include: Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects) you will explore the practice of seamlessly layering imagery from disparate sources to create a believable new cinematic space. In addition to gaining professional skills in the area of compositing and digital effects, you will be encouraged to experiment with new and creative approaches to this rapidly expanding art form. Film theory and language, and the history of compositing will also be considered.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course, you will achieve the following :

  • To provide a basis for you to develop video production skills relevant to the area of multimedia production.
  • Use video equipment to record and to create video material suitable for use in a multimedia project, including both location and studio based environments.
  • Demonstrate video editing concepts using analogue or digital editing platforms.
  • Digitise video and audio clips to produce assets suitable for multimedia use using industry specific hardware and software.


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Develop fluent industry-based software and production skills relating directly to effective production of time-based multimedia
  • Analyse, identify and apply creative and relevant solutions fulfilling specific concept and design requirements
  • Identify and develop an advanced visual and conceptual knowledge in the area of digital post-production
  • Effectively research and analyse the areas of compositing and digital visual effects
  • Demonstrate proficiency within the software environment in generation and manipulation of sophisticated imagery including character, object and environment
  • Explore and experiment with a broad range of approaches to digital compositng
  • Utilise digital techniques, balancing output quality with resources such as time factors and system performance for output of a final product over a wide range of digital mediums
  • Further develop their own production methods to incorporate the knowledge acquired in this course
  • Exhibit professional pride in individual work through commitment to high production standards and effective management of resources


Overview of Learning Activities

Classes are delivered via a week by week series of lectures and tutorials progressively enabling you to assimilate the necessary skills for completion of this course. These will focus on creative digital compositing concepts and techniques using layered image elements from various sources (2D and 3D graphics, digital video etc). You will be asked to consider and comment on images where the composition has been synthesised from a number of separate elements. There will be periodic assignments that will explore creative and technical aspects of compositing. The course will be taught as a series of weekly face-to-face workshops. Each workshop will address specific topics within the course area. The knowledge gained through these workshops can be directly applied to the project-work you will undertake as an assessment task. You will progressively evolve your understanding of the media through group discussion and critical analysis of linear and non-linear audiovisual works. As there will be a considerable amount of experiential learning, attendance at lectures and workshops is strongly recommended.

Your exploration of topics covered, along with a critical study of a selected work, will form background material for a presentation to be delivered in class. This assessment task will develop further confidence in formulating and refining ideas and speaking and presenting to a group. In addition, you are required to devise and produce an advanced concept of your compositing project. Group discussions and individual consultations with the lecturer will assist the you to develop your concept ideas.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

You are encouraged to do a wide range of reading and independent library research into all areas of art, design, and multimedia.

It is recommended that you have personal access to current (educational) versions of software used in the course: Flash, Fireworks, After Effects, Final Cut Pro or Premier and  Photoshop. If you use PC Windows operating system outside RMIT University, you should have current versions of QuickTime and Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your personal computers (these are free downloads on the internet).


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program capabilities. Assessment may include practical exercises and production examples.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

An assessment charter () summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.


Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document