CS24: COMPUTER ANIMATION Winter 2013 Prof. Lorie Loeb --- ASSIGNMENT 1: GRAVITY DUE Wednesday, January 9th

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1 CS24: COMPUTER ANIMATION Winter 2013 Prof. Lorie Loeb --- ASSIGNMENT 1: GRAVITY DUE Wednesday, January 9th INTRODUCTION Gravity (drawn) Animation is all about timing, spacing and change. This simple project demonstrates how variations in timing and spacing turn a simple line into a variety of falling objects. We start animating without a computer using the old fashioned pencil, and paper so that you can better understand timing and spacing without getting confused by Maya. It is important to observe from real life before beginning to animate. Look at the overall timing of the action then look for changes in direction (key poses). Observe how the object gains speed or comes to a stop, this is the spacing. Don t draw a single line before you spend time observing from life!!! In this assignment you will: (1) learn about animating on paper with a lightbox, (2) learn about timing, spacing and change, (3) learn about animation from observation, (4) start playing with physics and cartoon physics, (5) learn how to save work on the server and turn in homework using Fetch. Each of you will be assigned a number from 1 to 4. Remember your number because you will use it again in the quarter. You will complete the variation that corresponds with your number. Each of you will animate one of the following using nothing but a line to represent each object: IMPORTANT: 1. A leaf or piece of paper falling 2. A chain or string falling 3. A pencil falling 4. A log falling Be sure to show the ground and how the object reacts when it hits the ground. You will want to determine whether the ground is a hard or soft material. 1

2 Be sure to pay particular attention to how weight influences the timing and spacing. If forces other than gravity are working on the object (such as wind), be sure you know what they are and alter your timing and spacing accordingly. For the purposes of this assignment, these are inanimate objects and should not have any sort of internal forces affecting the action. Record the work on the LunchBox and save the file as a movie. SETUP The LunchBox Sync animation system is set up for your use in 003. To turn it on, find the power strip in the trench behind the little TV and flip the switch on. Everything you need should be activated. If the TV is on and isn t showing your image, make sure the yellow-tipped video cable coming from the LunchBox is properly connected to the TV (it may still be connected to the imac from previous use). Also make sure the TV is set to Input A. Now, to make sure the LunchBox is ready to go, press and hold the Setup button for about 8 seconds. Once a message appears, press the green button to clear the LunchBox s memory. This means you ll have to do all your recording in one sitting so the next person doesn t delete all your work! LUNCHBOX CONTROLS Live Toggles between your animation and live camera feed. Shoot Captures a frame from the camera. Use this once (24fps) or twice (12fps) per image. Skip to first/last frame Skips to the most recent frame. You must be on your last frame before you press Play in order for it to work correctly. Play Control playback of your animation. Hold it down for a second or two to make it loop continuously. Press any button to stop playback. Forward and Backward Navigate between individual frames. Delete Deletes the current frame Insert Captures a new frame and inserts it after the current frame. 2

3 RECORDING Start by recording your name for 2 seconds. Place a sheet with your name (don t say what type of object you ve animated we want to figure it out) on the table (depending on how you drew them, they may be upside down. This is ok we ll flip it later.) Adjust the camera so that it fits your frame. The top dial is for exposure (light/dark), the middle dial is for zoom, and the bottom dial is for focus. There is also a handle on the camera mount that allows you to move it up and down. Record your name for 2 seconds and then start recording your animation, shooting as many frames of each image as you d like. Capture your frames using the controls listed on the previous page. Unplug the yellow-tipped video cable from the TV and plug it in to the USB adapter connected to the imac next to the animation table. Open up the Easy VHS to DVD software. If it asks for an administrator password, just press Cancel. Name your video (lastname_gravity) and press continue. Make sure the Composite option is selected and the LunchBox is waiting on your last frame. Press continue. Press continue again Press Start recording then press and hold the Play button on the LunchBox. Allow it to cycle through your animation a few times before pressing the play button again to stop the animation. Now press Stop recording. Wait for the progress bar to finish. Now press Send to QuickTime Player. Your movie will open in QuickTime Player 7. To rotate your video, go to Window>Show Movie Properties and select the first video track. Choose the Visual Settings tab and use the rotation buttons to get your video to the desired orientation. Close the Properties window and save your video file wherever you like. If you need to trim the ends of your video, it s time to bring your file into imovie! Open imovie. File>Import>Full Original size Drag along your imported video so that the yellow box fits the frames that you want to use. Drag the box into the top-left timeline area. 3

4 Export your video with Share>Export. Do a dance. You just finished your first animation! TURNING IN YOUR HOMEWORK You should have gotten an from root with your username (usually your first initial and last name) and password. Be sure to save this information in case you forget as you ll need it to turn in all of your projects this term. If you re as CS major or have taken a Digital Arts class in the past, you should use your old information. Open up Fetch, our SFTP client of choice. The icon looks like this: Fill in the information, substituting your own username and password, so it looks like this: 4

5 The Initial folder: box allows you to set the first folder Fetch will open. In this case, you ve been directed directly to the assignments folder. Find the turn-in folder for Assignment 1 and drag and drop your movie file. You re done! See you in class! 5