LIGHT

The course of Visual Communication is finishing. We had the last lecture of the subject which was focused on the light and its effects on pictures, animation and videos.

Materials can be designed at computer by two types of models:

1) Local model: used in graphic arts to build real time images. Each color of the parts of the image must be defined. Light is defined by 3 elements: ambient light, diffuse reflection and specular reflection.

2) Global model: it looks more real as it contains shadows, reflects or transparencies. Those are defined by different types of algorithms. An important characteristic of this model is the ‘ray tracing’, what means that rays reflect a defined number of times in the different objects of the model.

We can observe the shadows on the floor.

There is a reflection on the table.

Transparencies both in windows and in the water.

Regarding colors, it’s not the same for emitting light or for filtering it. Filtering the main colors are red, blue and yellow; while emitting they are red, green and blue.




Thanks for all the course, which has had really interesting ideas and concepts of designing, even web pages, presentations, videos or virtual models.
Hope to see you soon!

MODELLING

When we think about modelling, the first thing it comes to me is a picture formed by small polygons, but what is it?

( http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/characters-disney-pixar-cars-3d-model/613988 )

That is a type of modelling, yes it is, but modelling is not only that. Is to render a real or only existing in computer prototype, so that we could change the initial status to another new one to create a movement. We first make a data structure to render the object, then create the object on the computer to afterwards have the opportunity to edit it.

This process can be made by different methods but the most popular is the named previously: polygonal representation. Polygons, which are defined in a certain position, define the shape of the object and they can be textured. Not only that, we can move them coordinately so that it seems to be moving. However, it requires a lot of information about the positioning , the shape and the texture of each polygon.

To sum up, I should say that this is a really complex technique to model your object, the goal you have formed in a computer for applying any change after.

Picture made in ProEngineer 5.0 (self made picture)

VIDEO: RECORDING AND EDITION

The subject goes on and a new work is coming over. The objective is to do a video, starting on the thought of ideas and finishing on the distribution, in this case to the professor of the subject.

The first idea is to shape the message and the vision of the recording, a work usually done by the directors in the films. In our case, after thinking the values we want to share on our video, we have to think who is going to appear on it as if it was a casting. This is indispensable to transmit our message correctly.

When everything is ready, we start to record applying all our knowledge, as for example the rule of thirds. And once we obtain the recording we edit it so that we can transmit the emotions and the values we want. We can also apply music to get better results.

Now you can see an example of the video edition. The quality is quite poor but we can perfectly appreciate the edition work:

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

When we listen about computer graphics nowadays we have no problem to relate it to our lives. Everybody has seen a video game, a film or even series with this type of design. Computer graphics are based on the edition of models and figures that can create, store, modify and render by pixels on the screen the edition.

At first, there were invented for military reasons but the development of the techniques had extended the opportunities to other uses as the ones named before.

For this editions the most simple transformations for a 2 dimension or 3 dimension model are the next ones:

1) Movement (lineal): to change the position of the model to a new one by a vector. (Example of a 2D figure)

2) Scale: for changing the size of the figure. (Example of 3D)

3) Rotation: used to rotate a model in a circular movement around an axis for a defined angle.

      [R] = rotation matrix

{x'} = [R] {x}

Here is an example of a rotation from the mechanics II subject:

They are asking us to rotate the first piece (A) so that it meets with the second one (B). Which is the rotation matrix R and the rotation angle?

IMAGE EDITION (Speech)

Another Thursday receiving a new lecture focused on the images, more concretely on the edition. Firstly, we were talked about the image and its properties. Resolution, format or features like the picture quality were introduced as the first contact with the theme.

A good brand of applications used to edit images were also presented, but the explanations were concretely for GIMP, a similar software to Photoshop. Changing some small features as contrast, colour line or the "varita mágica" to get the best of our pictures. After those changes we can see much better the object in the image and it only appears what we want on our picture, without anything else.

Now we can start editing our images and adapting them to our presentation!

 *

Image after some of the processes showed at the lecture:

* Picture taken from: http://www.juegosderol.cl/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=1417

HELP YOUR SPEACH WITH A EFFECTIVE POWERPOINT

New interesting lecture of the subject, this time talking about how to make a effective presentation. We are used to receive a PowerPoint lectures or to have to hand out some presentations. But are this presentations effective or can they cause death by PowerPoint?

It is not so difficult to do it attractive for your listeners, the key is not to extend on your text, neither using bullet point. This type of presentations can cause death by PowerPoint, while everybody is really bored and without paying any attention to the speaker.

Presentation must be more direct, with a picture that represents what you are talking about and one or two words for a better understanding or even to follow the speech without problems. A easy and simple presentation combined with a well-prepared speech for a effective connection with the listener.

INTRODUCTION TO IMAGES

Thinking on the design of a webpage, with the layout, the color and the typefaces the most important part parts are the images. They can help us to transmit better our emotions or our message or the website.

Regarding the bad aspects, pictures found on the internet have licenses that can limit the use we can give to the image. Nevertheless, we can get pictures without any license easily by an advanced reserch.

Even a drawing, a chart, a diagram or an animation, are really helpful for us in our design. Not only because of the design, also for the better understanding of the content. Don't worry if the picture is done by us or not, the important is to focus on the message.