Graphic Narrative Evaluation

Use this template to help you evaluate your project.

You should give specific details about your work.

You should provide both written and visual examples to explain your project.

You should find areas to praise in your work. Be specific about why you think they are good or why you are proud of them.

You should also find areas that could be improved. Look for areas that you could make better if you went back to them. Be specific about what you would improve.

Add additional slides as you need to. Don’t be restricted by what is here.

Any blank slides should be deleted before submission.

Does your final product reflect your original intentions?

• Compare your planning/digital flat plans/ storyboards to your final product

For all of the animals such as, the ducklings, swans, geese and rabbits I have used the same technique of rotascoping and going down the colour scale keeping in line to ensure the colours compliment each other. Despite, my flat plans were not digitalized and did not show what type of techniques or texture patterns I would use; I have chosen to add a texture layer to all my pages as it allows all the pages to flow a lot easily for the reader. Also, the rotascoping theme of most my subjects in the book make it easier for the reader to understand the story as everything has the same texture and pattern running through the book. This is what I planned to do and it has turned out successful.

My final product has achieved my official plan of my children's book of the Ugly Duckling. It has followed the script and turned out better than I expected. I have followed my story board to make sure my end product matches my planning as well as I can. My finalized book is well-organized by the use of the flat plan.

• Compare your planning/digital flat plans/ storyboards to your final product

I planned to use a variety of structures to make my book more interesting for the young audience on my page plan. I have followed this however I have had to tweak certain aspects of it such as the the layout of pages 5,6,7 the writing became a difficulty so I had to layout my images to fit around the text. Despite doing this, I still have followed the over all page plan and still have a variety of structures that I think the young audience will enjoy. These are example, of my planning and how the end product turned out. Theses show the variety of layouts I have used in my book.

How well have you constructed your images?

• How well have you constructed your images? You could talk about the overall visual appearance and well as the use of texture and colour.

I have constructed my images well as I have spent a lot of time thinking about how well each layout would work. I have 3 main different types of layouts where I have had to take time constructing the image so my customers find it easily as possible to read. The main problem with constructing my images was making it clear to the reader what was happening and making sure the image shows what the text was saying. I think I have succeeded in making my book clear and fun for my target audience. I first realized in the planning stage, that I wanted to have structure techniques from The Gruffolo in my own story book. I decided to use the technique of analyzing key features of a certain character which in my story is the ugly duckling.

• How well have you constructed your images? You could talk about the overall visual appearance and well as the use of texture and colour.

I have constructed my individual characters and settings by Rota scoping over an original real life object or most of the time I have free handed using the polygon lasso tool or shortcut (L). This allows me to create any shape I want using my mouse. I then use a sample from a certain other object for instance, the yellow of the ducklings scroll to get to the white and then go in a straight line to get the same shade but white to allow the colours to compliment each other. I then do this multiple times creating different shades and shapes on the object to create depth and a 3D look to it. Once I have finished I merge the layers together and then I am able to move the object around freely and import it into a desired setting or page. I have used this technique with most of my work. However, I have used shapes such as the ellipses tool (U) to create perfect circles and shapes with perfect round edges for shadows of the ducklings or the clouds. I used the Gaussian blur often to make certain things not as harsh for instance, the shadows of the clouds. I made the settings and characters separately which made it easier to sort out layers and reduce the amount of layers per page. This was how I found it easiest to organize and construct the pages. I had to be smart with how I constructed each setting as some elements I could use from previous pages. for instance, the trees I initially made, allowed me to use in other pages and just change the orientation and size to make it fit how I wanted it. By doing this I saved myself time which I could use doing other key elements of my book. A lot of my rotascoping was trying it out and failing. This took time as I was re-doing certain aspects of the book for instance, the shading of the characters took patience as I had to make it look 3D from a variety of angles which made it very difficult in some circumstances when I was’t using images underneath to rotascope over.

How well have you used text to anchor your images

• You should talk about the combination of words, images and text.I have anchored my text and images effectively as I have spent a lot of time ensuring that both text and image harmonize together to make the book easy to follow and understand. I've done this by using techniques from other books that I researched that used more than one image per page to show what I happening with in the story. For example, The Gruffolo uses multiple images to go along side text when describing key features of the character (the Gruffolo). Without these close up images the text would not have the same affect it has as the audience can not fully analyze the key features with out a visual image. I enjoyed this technique in the book so I used this in my own work as it would help my text and imagery fit together. I have 3 main different types of layouts where I have had to take time constructing the image and text so they make sense. I have had to slightly change some of the script to make it match with what the image is showing. With page 3 I've had to add 2 images on to one page to make sure everything I wrote on the script was shown in with the imagery. With the script I wrote, how the ugly duckling wondered towards the pond and when he finally got there he looked at his reflection and started crying, so I had to show both him walking down towards the pond and him crying at his reflection. This took some tampering with to make it perfect by editing the script and the images on Photoshop ensuring the two images portrayed what the text was interpreting.

Is your product suitable for your audience?

• Reference your proposal• Give an audience profile and describe suitability in reference to content

My product is suitable for my target audience which is (4-6). I decided the set this age range because from my research of children's books I realized I wanted to write more than one line per page an wanted book to be for children to be more confident in reading. My inspiration for my book was the Gruffolo as this had unique factors that I wanted to interpret in my book. I think the amount of writing was appropriate and this was the amount I wanted to include in my book. Also, the images were set out in a unique and had a variety of different layouts which I enjoyed. I incorporated these layouts and the ratio between text and imagery into my own book.

• Reference your proposal• Give an audience profile and describe suitability in reference to content

My book contains visual analyses of colours in depth. This helps my audience to understand there colours better in a fun way whilst learning about emotions and feelings. My book includes text that is slightly more advanced than certain books such as, Dear Zoo to give more confident readers something fun and enjoyable to read. As I have stated in my proposal I will not be aiming my book at a specific a gender. Through out my book I have used a variety of colours mostly using primary colours. I have not used and ‘gender specific’ colours to try not to Have a certain amount of girls for instance, Purchasing my book.

What do you like/dislike about the techniques you have used?

• Reference specific tools you used with images

I like how I have used the polygon lasso tool or shortcut (L) to construct most of my work as it ties everything together and makes it look professional and smart. This allowed me to create nearly everything that consists of my book . However, I have used shapes such as the ellipses tool (U) to create perfect circles and shapes with perfect round edges for shadows of the ducklings or the clouds. I used the Gaussian blur to often make certain things not as harsh for instance, the shadows of the clouds. I like how I have used different shades and shapes on a certainobject to create depth and a 3D look.

I like how my work is unique and has its own style that tells the original story of the ugly duckling in its own adaption. I have used a consistent texture overlay running through my book which has a certain affect making the colours not as harsh and bold. It lets the colours blendtogether creating a smooth affect and making it look more rugged andnot your usual clean perfect book which I enjoy. Also, this rugged Look has come into popularity from shop interiors to books. This, is Why I think my book will be more popular than other books that maybe on offer to buy. I like the fact that my book provides a widerange of layouts from a full page spread to a mix up of different shapes and sizes of imagery to illustrate the book. I find that thisWill be interesting for my young audience.

What do you like/dislike about how your final product looks?

Why did you include the content you used?

• Images, fonts, effects, colours

I decided to use the Hobo Std font as it shows my text to be clear and bold and I believe that it fits with the illustrations and the look they have. The font I have used is consistent all the way through my book and it is an easy for children to follow but stylish at the same time which wraps the story all together. I have used a consistent texture overlay running through my book which has a certain affect making the colours not as harsh and bold. It lets the colours blend together creating smooth affect and making it look more rugged and not your usual clean perfect book which I enjoy. The illustrations are from different angles so it isn't repetitive and so it can be fun and interesting for the audience.

What signs, symbols or codes have your used in your work?

• Choices of colour, style, locations, character design and tone all give additional meaning to your work.

I have located my book in the outdoors specifically in the woods and near a pond. I haven't specified where it is for example, a specific place in England etc. This lets the audience focus on the illustrations and use there own imagination to create there own version of my story. By doing this it lets children build character and imagination. The use of using a texture overlay lets my book be identified as its own and keeps by book unique from other children's stories. This helps my book to stand out when the children or parents see the initial first pages of my book. I have used certain symbols such as the big letter to start off each page which is called a (dropcap) . This helps my book to look more sophisticated and formal. I decided to use the same tones of colours to let the illustrations harmonize together and to bind everything into one consistent style. This allows the book to flow more easily when reading.

14

Audience ResponsesCultural competence:

Media texts require us to have a certain level of cultural understanding to be able to interpret them.

At a basic level, this could mean being able to read the language that a magazine is written in.

At a deeper level, it means being able to interpret signs and symbols that we use a visual shorthand to communicate ideas.

We recognise these signs in our own culture but find it harder to understand when looking at others.

We create and attach meaning to signs and symbols in many different forms.

Creative Media Production 2012

15

Audience ResponsesCultural competence:

What is this?

This is a Norwegian Pine tree, covered in snow and with a red ribbon on.

Our cultural understanding allows us to interpret its meaning.

To us, in British society, it means Christmas, presents and family.

This is because we share a cultural knowledge.

Creative Media Production 2012

16

Audience ResponsesCultural competence:

There are many other signs and symbols that we attach meaning to.

A leather jacket can imply rebellion.

A sports car can imply wealth and power.

A cross can represent religion.

Creative Media Production 2012

17

Audience ResponsesCultural competence:

Visual representations of everyday objects are often the same the world over. A car appears as a car, no matter what country it appears in.

What that car means however, can be very different depending on your cultural background.

Creative Media Production 2012

What representations can be found in your work?

• How are men, women or children shown in your work? Does your work feature different ages, races, social groups or religions? Does a lack of any variety of character types create its

own representation?

My book does not include any gender specific orientations, races, social groups or religions. My book only consists of small variety of animals and basic settings which include a woods and pond area. My children’s book has not been made to purposely show any race and religion to reduce the complication or any specific audience to buy my book. the only audience I have purposefully marketed my book is the age of 4-6. my book is also not gender specific.

What style have you employed in your products?

• Discuss influences/ existing products• What visual style does your work have and why did you choose it?

I have been influenced and inspired by a variety of techniques, styles, fonts, layouts ect. That I have I have researched. However, there was a certain children’s book that I focused on when creating my story. This was the Gruffalo. The layout of the book was my favorite part which is the main reason why I have included the feature in my own book. I have chosen to also set out my text a lot like the Gruffalo books Text. I didn’t want to warp my text or shape it in any way and keep it as authentic as possible. I wanted to do this to achieve a mature and sophisticated look to my book for children that are independent readers.

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-production and planning

• How did the planning and research help• How well did you manage your time

• Reference specific examplesMy research helped me a lot when I was coming with ideas of how my book will be planned out, what style it would have, what different layouts I could interoperate into my own work. A lot of my research was useful to inspire me. The idea generation was surprisingly helpful as I came up with good ideas that I could build on and work out how I would put these ideas together to create my book together. Some of my planning was not as helpful as I realized through out creating my book that some things worked better. For instance, in my planning my initial plan was to warp my text into different shapes so it fitted into my illustration however, I changed my mind on what type of book I wanted to create so I changed the childish warped text to a more sophisticates look to the text. Despite this, my overall book has turned out a lot like how my planning described my outcome to to be. The rota scoping and shapes were all used through out my book. The style of my book was the same as I intended to do which was to use a similar layout to the Gruffalo book.

• How did the planning and research help• How well did you manage your time

• Reference specific examples

I found that using my story board/ flat plans really helped me with laying all the objects out for each illustration as the drawings were how I wanted to create the picture as I new it made sense with the story. So I followed my flat plan all the way through creating my book so I stuck to my plan and made sure everything was done correctly. I also used my time management table to make sure how long I should be spending on each section and I did this effectively as I have manage d to finish my book to the acquired date it is needed.

Historical and cultural context

• How does your work compare to what has come before? What other similar products have existed in the past? What current products exist?

My book layout out and techniques that have been used is similar to the modern book. The Gruffalo. There are existing versions of the ugly duckling however, the script and version of my book has not be done or created before to my knowledge. my book is unique in the way to tells the story of the ugly duckling and the journey he takes to find out who he really is.I think my book will be enjoyable for the targeted audience as it has certain successful techniques attracted from the very popular Gruffalo book. the technique that i have used is using more than one illustration her page and using a variety of different layout. For instance, the use of a landscape plan of the main event on the page and then a close up of a feature of the ugly duckling to show what is being described.

Peer Feedback• Summarise peer feedback and discuss

– Responses you agree with– Responses you disagree with