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Intro to Multimedia Midterm Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

BMMA 1st Term Midterm Cheat Sheet

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

What is Visual Commun­ica­tion?

Visual commun­ication is composed of content and form.
Content is the essence of a work like a story, idea, or inform­ation we exchange with others
Form is the manner or way in which content is delivered, designed, or package for consum­ption
Content relates to what we want to say.
While form has to do with how we choose to express it or commun­icate it.
To put it in another way, we can think of content as a person’s body, and the form is the makeup, clothing, or access­ories to accentuate physical appear­ance.

Aesthetics

"­While content, function, and usability are important, our affinity for things is greatly affected by our percep­tions of outward beauty or appear­anc­e."
Aesthetics is essential to enhance a profes­sional framework that you can use to examine your work and others’ design choices critic­ally.
Applied aesthetics moves us away from unfounded judgments that are rooted in personal bias and opinion, and to the place where we begin to make reasoned and informed observ­ations based on formal theory and research.

Principles Of Design

The principles of design are formal rules and concepts for optimizing the arrang­ement and presen­tation of two-di­men­sional visual elements.
 
Unity
It can be thought of as the perceptual glue that holds a design together and maintains a sense of visual harmony.
Proximity
The law of proximity states that objects are more likely to be perceived as related when they are positioned close together.
 
Alignment
The principle of alignment encourages designers to position objects that belong together along a common edge or implied line.
   
Encourages the designers to position elements that belong together in a common edge or implied line. Any alignment is acceptable as long as the placement is consis­tent.
 
 
Similarity
Objects that are alike are more likely to be grouped.
   
The more dissimilar they are, the more they will likely resist and pull apart from the grouping.
   
However, the law of similarity does not suppose that all elements in a group be identical. Additi­onally, designers often take advantage of the dissim­ilarity of objects to create emphasis.
 
Repetition
can be used to create harmony and consis­tency.
Repeating signif­icant elements enhances the usability of a webpage.
 
Emphasis
"­Emp­hasis can be used to quickly guide the viewer’s attention to the main subject or message in a commun­ication exchan­ge."­
"­Since our eyes are naturally drawn to larger objects in a design, varying the size of spatial elements is a common way to connote emphas­is."­
 
Contrast
The strongest visible contrast is repres­ented by the difference between black and white.
Value
It describes the range of light and dark portions in an image or design.
 
value is usually expressed as contrast.
Tonal Ranges
It is the number of colors or gradient steps in a compos­ition that fall between the bipolar extremes of black and white
 
The greater the tonal range, the greater the contrast, and the more intere­sting a compos­ition will generally appear.
 
Color
Color is a powerful tool for enhancing contrast in visual design space, and color contrast has been used partic­ularly well in the advert­ising industry.
Warm colors
These colors reside near the orange area of the spectrum and include shades of red and orange, as well as warm greens. The human eye is attracted to the warm color regions of a design first.
Cool colors
Cool colors such as violets, blues, and cool greens seem to recede away from us into the backgr­ound, appearing distant and detached. Cool colors are calm, soothing, and placid, like the blue waters of a still mountain lake.
 
Depth
It is effective in achieving emphasis in a design.
In photog­raphy, film, and videog­raphy, the term depth of field describes the portion of the zaxis that viewers perceive as being in focus at any one time.
 
Proportion
It is the scale of an object relative to other elements within a compos­ition.
Our perception of an object’s size is related to the size and position of other objects within the field of view.
The location of an object also affects our perception of size.
 
Perpetual Forces*
When we look at a graphic repres­ent­ation within a frame (still picture or moving image), our brains are constantly processing the relative push and pull of perceptual field forces within the visual space.
Regardless of whether we view a photograph when it is lying flat on a table, hanging on a wall, or even rotated a quarter turn, we tend to perceive the top of the image as up and the bottom of the image as down.
 
Balance
A balanced compos­ition is achieved when the visual weight of objects is equally dispersed within the frame, producing a perceived state of equili­brium.
Symmet­rical Balance
It is analogous to a seesaw whose pivot point or fulcrum is centered.
Asymme­trical Balance
Asymme­trical, or informal, compos­itions are much more intere­sting to design and compose, and can appear more visually intere­sting and dynamic.
 
Contin­uation
The law of contin­uation suggests that our brains tend to process what we see as continuing along lines that are predic­table and free of obstacles, and that don’t abruptly change direction.
 
Figure­-Ground
Figure
It an element that appears in the foreground of our perceptual field.
Ground
everything behind the figure.
In nature, the phenomenon of depth perception enables us to distin­guish between figure and ground.
Visual cues within are needed to provide a sense of order in a two-di­men­sional space.
You need to remember that the viewer wants to make sense of what he or she is seeing.
 
Psycho­logical Closure
The principle of psycho­logical closure is used in visual design all the time.
Explan­ations of words and symbols can be replaced with partial impres­sions or abstract variations of elements.
With psycho­logical closure, the brain aims to create a meaningful order out of visual chaos. Enough visual cues are needed for the brain to complete a mental impres­sion.
 

Software Tools

Digital Audio Editing & Production
Adobe Audition
It emulates a profes­sional audio studio, including multi-­track produc­tions and sound file editing, along with digital signal processing effects.
Pro Tools
It is a high-end integrated audio production and editing enviro­nment that runs on Mac computers as well as Windows.
 
Offers easy MIDI creation and manipu­lation as well as powerful audio mixing, recording, and editing software.
Audacity
Audacity is an open-s­ource, free, and easy-t­o-use multi-­track audio and music editing platform. It is compatible in windows and in mac.
 
Graphics and Imaging
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the standard in a tool for graphics, image proces­sing, and image manipu­lation. Layers of images, graphics, and text can be separately manipu­lated for maximum flexib­ility, and its set of filters permits creation of sophis­ticated lighting effects.
Adobe Illust­rator
Adobe Illust­rator is a powerful publishing tool for creating and editing vector graphics, which can easily be exported to use on the Web.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is use for public­ation layout and design like magazines, books, newspaper, brochures. The latest is, InDesign already have a function wherein you can create intera­ctive public­ations that you can distribute online.
Figma
Figma is quite similar to Adobe Illust­rator because both of them is a vector graphics editing tool. However, Figma is also use to design user interface for web, mobile, and other smart products. This is also use to create intera­ctivity in your designs through its protot­yping tool. Primarily, this is a web-based app but there is also a desktop applic­ation.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is also similar to Figma. It is also a vector­-based editing tool that’s primarily used for user experience and interface design tool for web and mobile.
GIMP
GIMP is a cross-­pla­tform image editor available for GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows and more operating systems. It is free software, you can change its source code and distribute your changes.
 
Video Production and Editing
Adobe Premiere
Adobe Premiere is a simple, intuitive video editing tool for nonlinear editing— putting video clips into any order. Video and audio are arranged in tracks, like a musical score. It provides a large number of video and audio tracks, superi­mpo­sit­ions, and virtual clips. A large library of built-in transi­tions, filters, and motions for clips allows easy creation of effective multimedia produc­tions.
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is a powerful video editing tool that enables users to add and change existing movies with effects such as lighting, shadows, and motion blurring. It also allows layers, as in Photoshop, to permit manipu­lating objects indepe­nde­ntly.
Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro is a video editing tool offered by Apple for the Macintosh platform. It allows the input of video and audio from numerous sources, and provides a complete enviro­nment, from editing and color correction to the final output of a video file.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is non-linear vide tool primarily use for color grading or editing the colors of a video. Adding visual effects and editing can also be done here.
 
Animation
Autodesk Maya
It is a complete modeling package. It features a wide variety of modeling and animation tools, such as to create realistic clothes and fur. Autodesk Maya runs on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Autodesk 3Ds Max
Formerly 3D Studio Max, it includes a number of high-end profes­sional tools for character animation, game develo­pment, and visual effects produc­tion. Models produced using this tool can be seen in several consumer games.
Adobe Animate
This is formly Adobe Flash. It allows users to create intera­ctive movies by using the score metaphor—a timeline arranged in parallel event sequences, much like a musical score consisting of musical notes. Elements in the movie are called symbols in Animate. Symbols are added to a central reposi­tory, called a library, and can be added to the movie’s timeline. Once the symbols are present at a specific time, they appear on the Stage, which represents what the movie looks like at a certain time, and can be manipu­lated and moved by the tools built into Animate. Finished Animate movies are commonly used to show movies or games on the Web. Animate is also used in creating 2D Animated videos.
Blender
Blender is an open-s­ource 3D graphics software that you can use to create various 3D objects, create animated visuals, and motion graphics.
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is a profes­sional 3D software by Maxon and is also commonly used in the industry. It is efficient for motion graphics as well, visual effects, and even in VR or virtual reality.
 
Web Design Tool
Dreamw­eaver
Dreamw­eaver is a webpage authoring tool that allows users to produce multimedia presen­tations without learning any HTML.
 
Digital Learning Design
Articulate 360
A possible career path that a Multimedia Arts graduate can explore is being an e-learning designer wherein you can design the visuals of a digital learning material. In the e-learning industry, they usually use Articulate 360 in designing intera­ctive learning materials.
 

Elements of Design

The elements of design are the fundam­ental building blocks of visual content.
 
Space
It has an outer frame where the visual elements are placed.
In Adobe Photoshop and Illust­rator, the document window or workspace is referred to metaph­ori­cally as the canvas.
Two-Di­men­sional Space
A digital workspace has two dimens­ions: width and height. Both are measured in pixels which are tiny blocks of color.
Positive Space
It is the part of an image where the visual elements are placed.
Negative Space
It is the rest of the image without visual elements.
 
Dots
It is the most basic repres­ent­ation of form.
The starting point for all other elements of design.
Dots can be combined in large numbers to portray complex visual objects and images.
 
Shapes
It is a two-di­men­sional element formed by the enclosure of dots and lines.
Shapes are formed by enclosing dots and lines.
A shape can be as simple as a circle, or as complex as a snowflake.
Basic Geometric Shapes are; Circles, Triangles and Squares.
These shapes are called geometric shapes as they can be changed or modified using mathem­atics and formal rules of constr­uction.
Organic Shapes
These shapes are similar to objects in nature.
 
Organic shapes are imperfect and soft.
 
They are often constr­ucted of continuous curves or circular elements.
 
Form
Form adds the dimension of depth to shape.
Form is three-­dim­ens­ional and connects us more fully to the way we see objects in the natural world.
Sphere and Cube.
Form accent­uates the depth of shape. Form adds the dimension of depth to shape.
Lighting
Lighting affects form.
 
Hard lighting from distant or narrow light sources casts shadows, which gives an image the illusion of volume, and emphasizes texture.
 
Texture
Texture is the surface attribute of a visual object that evokes a sense of tactile intera­ction, and it can be implied in images.
We perceive texture with the sense of touch.
Texture evokes our sense of touch, smell, and taste. However, an image can only imply a sensory response.
 
Pattern
It is the reoccu­rrence of a visual element within a design space.
Patterns are present in clothing, furniture, and wallpa­pers.
Similar to texture, pattern adds visual interest; like shape, pattern can be organic and geometric.
 
Color
Color has three (3) dimens­ions: hue, saturation, and brightness.
Hue
It is the color shade of an object as a single point on the color spectrum.
Saturation
It is the strength or purity of color.
Bright­nes­s/Value
It is the lightness or darkness of the color.

Plan and Design

Road Map
The time and effort you put into planning a multimedia project will determine the degree to which the project, once completed, hits its mark. A plan is your road map and serves as the founda­tional visionary framework underg­irding the creative enterp­rise.
 
Creativity
Creativity is a process that “involves the production of novel, useful products.”
THE THREE Ps OF MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION
For many years, film and video producers have utilized a popular process model known as the three Ps: prepro­duc­tion, produc­tion, and postpr­odu­ction.
 
Pre-Pr­odu­ction
Pre-pr­odu­ction is the prepar­ation phase of a project.
 
Production
Production is the acquis­ition or design phase of a project.
 
Post-P­rod­uction
Post-p­rod­uction is the assembly phase of a project.
 
Client and Producer
The market is full of freelance producers and directors who operate indepe­ndently on a work-f­or-hire basis.
The producer is the message design expert.
Initial Client Meeting
The starting point for nearly every project is the initial client meeting, a general fact-f­inding session involving the client and producer and their respective team members. No matter how the teams are consti­tuted, each party will have a designated leader or point-­person.
Needs Assess­ment, Fact Gathering, Research
The members of the design team need inform­ation, and lots of it, before they can fully assess the problem and begin offering solutions. During the initial client meeting, the project director will often take the lead by asking lots of questions and taking copious notes.
Idea Generation and Concept Develo­pment
The next step in the process is to begin developing a general idea or concept for the project.
 
The process model for idea generation can vary widely depending on whether you’re designing a website, an intera­ctive photo gallery, an educat­ional training video, or something else.
Previs­ual­ization Tools
Previs­ual­ization is a term that has been used for years to describe the act of putting an idea or concept into a visual form that can be better understood by the author of the idea and shared with others.
 
Treatment
A treatment is a short narrative descri­ption of a project.
 
Storyboard
A storyboard combines words and pictures together to commun­icate an idea.
 
Script
A script is a written narrative framework for organizing the visual and audio portions. Scripts are most often used for time-based media projects and increa­singly for intera­ctive narrat­ives.
 
AV Script Format
It is one of the most common and versatile script formats used in commercial production today.
   
The two-column AV format is ideal for the producers of radio and television commer­cials, music videos, promot­ional videos, education and training programs, docume­nta­ries, intera­ctive narrat­ives, and more.
 
The Design Process
Specify Requir­ements
Specifying requir­ements helps establish the scope of your project, or the range of content and pages or screens. During this phase, your design team will meet with the client to identify business needs and requir­ements, existing problems, and potential users.
Analyze Users
Next, you will conduct research to define your target users by demogr­aphic charac­ter­istics and/or their technology skills. You will explore when, where, and how target users will use the interface. You’ll also learn about their previous experience with similar interf­aces.
Build a Prototype
The design and initial production stage involve planning your layout with a wireframe, creating a mockup or paper prototype, getting initial user feedback, and creating a working prototype. Your team will first develop a conceptual model of the interface, addressing target users’ needs and incorp­orating functional solutions.
Evaluate and Revise
Before turning the prototype into the actual interface that you’ll give users, your team needs to evaluate and refine it. Begin by testing the interface yourself and fixing obvious problems. Then usability test it and fix the remaining problems.