For March 28th

Same deal, get your exercise on your blog along with a resource and an inspirational motion graphics example. Remember...find something that is going to push yourself to do something you might not otherwise do.

Here's a couple to check out to get your creative juices flowin.

For this week, on your blog, post up your the following and be ready to show.

Completed exercise - upload to YouTube or the blog itself
Link/Embedded video of an After Effects resource or tutorial
Link/Embedded video of an inspiring video that relates somehow to motion graphics.

Any questions, shoot me an email!

Check below for some good links to get familiar with After Effects. We'll be doing some straight up tutorials to help you out on Thursday as well.

After Effects Introduction

Checkin out the interface for After Effects, if you're familiar with Illustrator and Photoshop, once you figure out where stuff is, it should come pretty easy. 

Some helpful info from Adobe.com
Workspace 

Managing Layers

A Couple Good resources to start off with:

creativecow.net
tutsplus.com
videocopilot.net

cgtextures.com

Starting out, we're going to get some inspiration. After Effects is the single most powerful tool Adobe has to offer, and if you become a master, your imagination is the only limit...no joke.

http://vimeo.com/50331054#

I hope everyone gets pumped...cause if you're not, you're in the wrong business...and this is just the beginning.

Course Syllabus

EIMA 2150-2A
Design For Motion Graphics II
Nathan Wetjen

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:
EIMA 2150 Calendar / Assignments /Summer Quarter 2013
This is the approximate schedule that must be maintained to complete all objectives of the course. It is subject to change.

Dates	week#
Thurs. June 6	1	Introductions Syllabus/Course Overview Lecture - Shape Characterization/Shape Layers/Text
Thurs. June 13	2	RadioWaves - 3D Text - Animate Extruded Logo
Thurs. June 20	3	3D Camera - Parenting
Thurs. June 27	4	Bounce - Motion Tracking
Independence Day		No Class
Thurs. July 11	5	Mocha - 3D Tracking - Work Day
Thurs. July 18	6	Audio to Keyframes
Thurs. July 25	7	Expressions
Thurs, Aug 1	8	Cinema 4D
Thurs, Aug 8	9	Work Day/Progress Critique
Thurs, Aug 8	10	Final Critique Day

Metropolitan Community College Course Syllabus –Summer Quarter 2013 Title: Design For Motion Graphics II Prefix/Section: EIMA 2150-2A Credit Hours: 4.5 DATE CLASS BEGINS: Thursday, June 6, 2013 DATE CLASS ENDS: Thursday, August 15, 2013 DATES CLASS DOES NOT MEET: NA Meeting Day/Time: Thurs. 530pm - 10:55 pm Last Day to Withdraw August 1, 2013 Delivery Type: Classroom Class Location: EVC Room 416 Lab Location: EVC Room 416 Course Web Address: http://omahamotiongraphic.blogspot.com  CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor Name:  Nathan Wetjen Office Location:  EVC Room 332 Office Telephone:  (402) 289-1369 Facsimile: (402) 289-1236 Office Hours:  n/a Email Address: nwetjen@mccneb.edu Faculty Web Site: n/a Academic Program Area: Languages and Visual Arts (Dean Tom McDonnell, 289-1306 COURSE INFORMATION COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students explore visual design concepts related to motion graphics. Adobe Photoshop and After Effects are the primary software used to compose still images, live-action video, and animation for television, film, and new media. This course provides the student with the necessary technical software applications to produce title sequences, station identification, key-frame animation, and info-graphics. PREREQUISITE or CO-REQUISITE: There are no prerequisites for this course. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Effectively communicate an idea using motion graphics 2. Understand the basic integration of After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator. 3. Create typographic title sequences. 4. Use design concepts in motion graphics. 5. Understand basic video formats and compression methods 6. Create a final portfolio of motion graphics in the form of a reel. REQUIRED/SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: - Portable storage device (you will need a compatible format to back up your work) - Blank DVD-R (2) for burning final Project reel to hand in. One to hand in, one to keep copy for yourself. - Headphones - Must have by second class. - One dedicated Notebook for sketching, thumbnails and notes. COURSE STRUCTURE This course is lab-based. It will consist of lectures, demonstrations and discussions, but learning is done primarily through hands on experience with the software used to complete projects that are visually and conceptually challenging. It will be necessary for students to work outside of class time to complete all coursework. COURSE ASSESSMENT TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS 1. Reading the User Guide, Tutorial, class handouts. 2. Constructing images through sketchbooks and software and peripherals. 3. Critiques. 4. Self-instigated visual and conceptual research Grading Policy Final Course Grades are determined by cumulative quarter work, attendance, and participation, as well as on Final Project Presentations and content. Class Exercises, Organization and Participation (20%) Each class period will be spent working on exercises designed to take the student through technical aspects of the software while encouraging the development of and understanding of creative problem-solving skills. Exercises will result in QuickTime movies which will be placed in the hand-in folder in the class folder on the network. Each exercise must be clearly named with student name, exercise number and .mov and placed in the HAND-IN folder. Exercise/assignments will be finished (to a degree) in time for critique and placed in QuickTime folder. After showing project and getting feedback from class and instructor, student may re-do the assignment and place it in the HAND-IN folder. Exercises will be graded as a whole. 3 Individual Projects (60 %) Each student is expected to complete 3 individual motion graphic pieces that illustrate creative, effective motion graphic design solutions and communicate an idea. All original graphics must be used. There should be audio in each of the three pieces. Projects should make effective use of the techniques covered in the short class exercises. Project #1 Introduction Kinetic Typography motion design Create a kinetic typographic motion design piece that introduces yourself, including your name and title.  Final movie should be 45-75 seconds. Project #2 Motion graphic design piece totally based on a piece of music Final piece should be a 45-75 seconds long. Choose a part of a piece of music that makes sense for the given time-frame. Create graphics that illustrate/interpret the music. Does not have to be a literal interpretation of the music, but should express a definite idea about the music. Project #3 Open Final piece should be a 45-75 seconds long. Projects 1-3 should be started by the second week of the quarter and be presented for critique a minimum of 2 times before the final movie is rendered. Group Project (20 %) Group project to be determined by the group. A minimum 2 minute motion graphic design piece should be the final result of a group effort. Final Hand in: The 3 individual projects plus the group project should be rendered as QuickTime movies and presented in the form of a reel in 2 different formats: 1. on a live site such as youtube, vimeo, or your own website. 2. handed in on a DVD as data or playable DVD. Organization and Participation  Participation means following expectations written below; being at every class, on time and offering constructive criticism to classmates. It also means being able to take criticism of one's own work. Participation will also mean having work completed for the assigned due dates.  91-100 = A Excellent 81-90 = B Above Average 71-80 = C Average 61-70 = D Below Average 60-0 = F Failure FX attendance-related failure I Incomplete Maintenance of Student Records Exercises and Projects will be turned in at the end of the quarter. All assignments will be returned to the student after grading. Grade books (grade spreadsheets) should be kept by the instructor for a minimum of one (1) year. Student tests, papers, projects, etc., that were graded by faculty for determining the final grade and were not returned to the student, should be kept for one (1) year. All assignments not picked up by students should be in the faculty office room 332.   INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS Required Expectations Attendance This course requires regular attendance.  It also requires extra time to be spent outside of class. If this class meets a total of 11 times, each student is allowed two (2) absences.  Three absences will result in a lowering of your grade by one letter.  Each additional two absences will result in another letter grade reduction.  If this class meets 22 times, each student is allowed 3 absences.  Four absences will result in the course grade being dropped one letter grade.  Any student acquiring eight (8) absences will be recommended for Instructor Withdrawal. Three tardies will equal one absence. WX: After the first class meeting and through the Census Date, the instructor will disenroll (WX) students who have never attended. The Census Date is listed under the Important Dates for the course in the official Class Schedule at http://www.mccneb.edu/schedule/. FX: An FX is a final grade given to a student who stops attending a class, does not return, and fails.  Participation Participation means following expectations written below; being at every class, on time and offering constructive criticism to classmates. It also means being able to take criticism of one's own work. Participation will also mean having work completed for the assigned due dates. Expectations Disruptive Classroom Behavior will not be tolerated Portable Electronic Devices Usage-no talking on cell phones in the Visual Arts Lab *Internet Use During Class is restricted to class assignments. Classtime will be spent drawing, critiquing, and other activities conducive to learning and practicing drawing. There is no time allowed or tolerance for playing games on the computer, texting, or any other activities that detract from these class processes. Anyone playing computer games during class will receive a lower grade for the course. COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS: When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp), which calls for responsible and cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/. RECORDING IN THE CLASSROOM: Students may not video or audio record class sessions without the instructor’s knowledge and permission. If recording of class sessions is authorized as a reasonable accommodation under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the instructor must have the appropriate documentation from College Disability Support Services. Permitted recordings are to be used only for the individual student’s educational review of the class session and may not be reproduced, posted, sold or distributed to others. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary procedures as outlined in the Student Conduct Code. ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT: Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for classwork may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website athttp://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or athttp://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V-4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf. STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw through WebAdvisor at http://webadvisor.mccneb.edu or by calling Central Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus. Notice:  This syllabus is written as an expectation of class topics, learning activities, and expected learning outcomes.  However, the instructor reserves the right to make changes in this schedule that may  result in enhanced or more effective learning for students.  These modifications will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will be done within the policies and guidelines of Metropolitan Community College. LEARNING SUPPORT MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Self-paced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available. Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student Handbook, College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations from Disability Support Services (DSS) located in each Student Services Office. After students have arranged for accommodations with DSS, the student and instructor should privately discuss these accommodations. For further information, please contact DSS or visit http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at 457-2900 or mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu. TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES: By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website: http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X-15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.