CHAPTER TWO

THE MAKING OF MULTIMEDIA: AN INTRODUCTION

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CGMB113: MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY

SARASWATHY SHAMINIAdapted from Notes Prepared by:

Noor Fardela Zainal Abidin© UNITEN 2004/2005

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Objectives

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:• Describe the four primary stages of a multimedia

project • Describe the skills and talents needed for a multimedia

project• Identify the most common hardware platforms and

software tools for multimedia production and delivery

Stages of a Multimedia Project

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Stages of a Multimedia Project : (1) Planning• Planning involve:-

▫ Developing an idea▫ Identifying Objectives and Users▫ Identify Skills and Resources▫ Developing a graphic template, the structure, and a

navigational system.▫ Estimating Time and Cost▫ Develop a small prototype or proof of concept

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Stages of a Multimedia Project : (2) Design and Production

▫ The planned tasks are performed to create a finished product.

▫ Task include storyboarding, designing a detail navigation structure, GUI consideration and HCI consideration.

▫ The product is revised, based on the continuous feedback received from the client by doing an evaluation.

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Stages of a Multimedia Project : (3) Testing

• The program is tested to ensure that it:• meets the objectives of the project• works on the proposed delivery platforms• meets the client requirements.

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Stages of a Multimedia Project : (4) Deliver

• The final project is packaged and delivered to the end user.

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (1) Hardware1. Fast processor

▫ e.g. Pentium

2. Large RAM (Random Access memory)▫ Memory space that the computer uses when performing work.▫ More RAMs means computer works quicker and more efficient.

3. Storage▫ Large Hard Disk

Capable of supporting fast data transfer rate.▫ Removable large-capacity storage devices

E.g. rewritable CD-Rom, Zip drive

4. A good CD-ROM burner & good CD-R software to complement it

▫ Easy CD Creature Deluxe

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (1) Hardware5. High resolution and a large monitor

▫ Minimum 17 inch monitor▫ A dot-pitch value of .28 or smaller▫ Dot-pitch: distance in millimetres between each of the

red, green and blue dots etched into the phosphor of the inside of the screen.

▫ The smaller the dot-pitch value, the finer the image.▫ Multisync monitor: allow the change in screen

resolutions without having to reset the system.

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (1) Hardware6. Good video display card

▫ preferable capable of displaying 24 bit colours7. Good video capture cards

▫ Allow you to capture video from a tape or camcorder8. A good quality digital camera

▫ At least support 640 x 480 pixels images▫ Has display panel▫ Use disk or card to store the images before being

uploaded to the computer.▫ without having to reset the system.

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (1) Hardware9. Input devices

▫ Keyboard, mouse, track ball, touch screen, graphic tablet, data glove

10. A good flatbed scanner▫ 24-bit colour depth and 300-dpi resolution

11. Colour Printer12. Colour projector

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (2) Software• Graphic design photo editing application

Adobe Photoshop, Corel’s Photo-Paint• 3D modeling and animation application

Maya, 3D StudioMax• Digital sound editing application

Sonic Foundry’s Sound Forge• Digital video editing application

Adobe’s Premiere• Multimedia authoring application

Adobe Director• Web page authoring/design tool

Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft’s FrontPage

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (3) Enabling Technology1. Computing Power

▫ Increase in CPU processing power▫ Increase in storage capacity

Large capacity hardisk space – 500 Gigabytes (500 GB) to 1 Terabytes (1 TB) is common nowadays

Increase in storage bandwidth e.g. disk array technology▫ Personal computer and workstation revolution▫ Progress in user interfaces and software concepts

GUI, object-oriented concept and client-server paradigm

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (3) Enabling Technology2. Data Networking

▫ Better transmission media Fiber optic as compared to copper wire

▫ Better transmission technique Fast packet switching

▫ Better services offered ATM, ISDN, B-ISDN, Broadband

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (3) Enabling Technology3. Compression Technology

▫ GIF (Graphical Interchange Format) Mostly used with the internet

▫ JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) Still image compression

▫ PNG (Portable network Graphic) Very popular nowadays especially for web-based

application

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (3) Enabling Technology3. Compression Technology

▫ MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group) Full motion video compression MPEG-1 : for video & audio compression on digital storage

media at 1.5Mbits/sec e.g. CD-ROM MPEG-2 : video & audio compression for high quality digital

storage media (4 to 60Mbits/sec) and video service over communication network.

MPEG-4 : complete audio-visual compression for a scene

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Requirements for a Multimedia Project: (4) Creativity and Organizational skills.• In a multimedia project, being creative implies knowledge

of hardware and software.• It is essential to develop an organized outline detailing the

skills, time, budget, tools and resources needed for the project

• Assets such as graphics, sound and the like should be continuously monitored throughout the project’s execution.

• A standardized file-naming procedure should be followed for precise organization and swift retrieval.

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Summary• The basic stages of a multimedia project are planning and

costing, design and production, testing and delivery.• Successful high-quality multimedia project requires a

combination of talents and skills, not only on the artistic side but in organization, time and money.

• Trying to do it all, rather than building a good crew with appropriate skills, is tempting – but usually fatal.

• The most precious asset you can apply to a multimedia project is creativity – which is very difficult concept to learn

• Credit for a project is valuable commodity. Negotiate or make allowances for project credits early on.

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Reference•Vaughan Tay, Multimedia: Making It work. 7th

Edition. McGraw Hill •McGloughlin Stephen, Multimedia: Concepts and

Practice. Prentice Hall•F. Fluckiger, Understanding Networked Multimedia:

Applications and Technology, Prentice Hall.

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