Evaluation

This module has been one that has produced some really exciting and different work for me; particularly the animation side as this was a production method that I wouldn't even of considered before this brief due to my lack of knowledge for the software.

The printed pictures brief was my most enjoyable brief of the 3. It led me into a new way of thinking,  where the process drove the outcome. My drawing about craft became my craft in the process. It became like a jigsaw puzzle and I was there to put the pieces together and create the end picture. The workload of producing 3 different panoramas was a bit of a struggle and to print it proved even more of a struggle! However, my drawings were all completed before christmas and it was all screen printed a few days before the deadline. 

Time management was something that I had to concentrate on in this module. If i did not plan my time, I noticed that I would almost immediately fall behind on the workload. This module became my sole focus most of the time which did effect my other modules. My other modules were put to the side and it did have a slight negative effect on them. However, this did have a good effect on this module!

I did face a number of problems whilst doing this module. Many of these problems were due to the nature of the module (screen printing and after effects processes). Learning a new software proved quite a task in this module. It was the first time that I had ever used Adobe After Effects. I feel that I picked up the software quite easily due to my prior knowledge in adobe photoshop and the apple iMovie software as they both had similar characteristics. That said, there was countless times where I had to Google how to do something. From learning all these little bits and bobs I would say that my knowledge of the software is now very good. The best way for me to learn something like this is for me understand how it works, for example setting a 'parent' layer means when i increase the 'parent' layer in size, the 'child' layer will increase as a result so that I don't need to set keyframes on both layers as they are almost latched together. These learnt skills have given me the confidence that I can actually make an animation again if I wanted to and i'm really glad that I now have these skills.

If I were to do this brief again, I would of liked to of focussed more on shape and colour rather than line work as I feel I would enjoy it more, I would also make the animation more like a infographic tone of voice to suit my own tone of voice. Another thing I would of changed is I would of probably gone for the short set of animations instead as these seem to be of a lot higher visual quality when looking at other people's work.

The visual journal brief was one what was an ongoing investigation into the other briefs. It was where I translated written research into drawings and ideas. Once I had got my idea, I didn't use it as much due to most of this thinking and drawing then being done on the computer. However, it was a really good reference point and a place where my ideas were birthed and figured out. 

With the screen printing process, I already knew what I was doing from previous experience so the process itself wasn't a problem but there was quite a few other problems that I faced. For example, my panorama was meant to be 6xA5paper wide and as tall as a piece of A5, however this would not fit on a screen. The smallest it could be was the width of A1- 841mm, I changed my designs resultantly which was fine. When i came to screen print this, there wasn't a squeegee wide enough and because the screen would only fit on the bed landscape orientation, I had to attach a squeegee to a metal arm and run it horizontally across my screen; this was something that was unfamiliar and a bit strange at first but the prints turned out fine. I encountered a number of other problems for example my black ink was not coming through the screen because it dried into the screen and when i washed it it didn't come out so i had to blast the screen, coat it, expose it and re print it. Another problem was my screen didn't expose properly which made me have to blast, coat it and expose it again. All these problems couldn't of been foreseen or planned for but thankfully I did set aside leeway time and exaggerated the time each thing was going to take. Some of these problems could however of been avoided if I had, had more prior understanding and knowledge of different areas e.g exposing time but I do feel that this kind of knowledge can only happen over time and with experience. 

This module has definitely capitalised on my existing skills as a screen printer and birthed new skills with animation. I have learnt so much over the time spent in this module. Overall the module has been fairly difficult for me regarding the amount of work needed to be generated in the time frame available with the other modules in progress at the same time but I am proud of the work produced and feel that it reflects who I am as an illustrator.