BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Alyx Entwistle

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Vector & Raster Images----------------------------------------------------------------------------------VECTOR IMAGES- Vector art only has one format, which is .EPS.- Vector and bitmap differ in the way they are stored in the art files. Vector saves the image as lines with coordinates of their starting and ending points. This creates simple images, and research has demonstrated that this is the way the human brain sees and stores images.-Vector art is easier for a computer to save than bitmap images and takes up less space on a file, which is likely why the brain saves images in the same way. In fact, a poster-sized image saved as vector art will only take up a few kilobytes of memory. The same image saved with medium resolution may not even fit on one CD-ROM as a raster image.RASTER IMAGES- A raster image can also be called a bitmap image.- The raster image takes a wide variety of formats, including the familiar .gif, .jpg, and .bmp.- A raster image represents an image in a series of bits of information which translate into pixels on the screen. These pixels form points of colour which create an overall finished image. - When a raster image is created, the image on the screen is converted into pixels. Each pixel is assigned a specific value which determines its colour. The raster image system uses the red, green, blue (RGB) colour system. An RGB value of 0,0,0 would be black, and the values go all the way through to 256 for each colour, allowing the expression of a wide range of colour values. In photographs with subtle shading, this can be extremely valuable. -When a raster image is viewed, the pixels usually smooth out visually for the user, who sees a photograph or drawing. When blown up, the pixels in a raster image become apparent. While this effect is sometimes a deliberate choice on the part of an artist, it is usually not desired.-Depending on resolution, some raster images can be enlarged to very large sizes, while others quickly become difficult to see. The smaller the resolution, the smaller the digital image file. For this reason, people who work with computer graphics must find a balance between resolution and image size.Sources;http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-vector-art.htm and http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-raster-image.htm

This is the difference between vector and raster images

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Anti-aliasing---------------------------------------------------------------Anti-aliasing is the technique of decreasing any distortion caused when making a raster image. It applies subtle transitions in the pixels along the edges of images to minimize the jagged effect. It is used in digital photography, computer graphics, digital audio and many other applications.

This only really comes to play when using raster images by using a higher resolution to make a smooth appearance. Vector images always appear smooth at any size or resolution.

This is what a raster image looks like originally and without any anti-aliasing used.

This is what a raster image looks like after anti-aliasing is used.

Sources;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatial_anti-aliasing and www.sketchpad.net

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Resolution-------------------------------------------------------------Resolution is the term used to describe the number of dots, or pixels, used to display an image.

Higher resolutions mean that more pixels are used to create the image, resulting in a crisper, cleaner image.

The display, or resolution on a monitor, is composed of thousands of pixels or dots. This display is indicated by a number combination, such as 800 x 600. This indicates that there are 800 dots horizontally across the monitor, by 600 lines of dots vertically, equalling 480,000 dots that make up the image you see on the screen.

Sources;http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/r/g/resolution.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Super-resolution_example_closeup.png

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Aspect Ratio---------------------------------------------------------------An aspect ratio is the ratio between the width and height of a film image.

The number denoting width comes first, and the height portion of the aspect ratio is always written as 1.

A motion picture's aspect ratio often appears on the back of the DVD or video box. An example would be 1.85:1. This means that the size of the original theatrical presentation of that film is 1.85 times as wide as it is high.

Prior to the early 1950s, almost all motion pictures had the aspect ratio 1.33:1. This ratio was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and became known as Academy Standard. When television standards were being developed in 1941, the National Television Standards Committee, or NTSC, decided that 1.33.1 would be the aspect ratio for television sets and broadcasting in the United States. This aspect ratio is also written as 4x3 and is the aspect ratio of all non-widescreen television sets. Technically, the Academy Standard aspect ratio is really 1.37:1, but it is still commonly referred to as 1.33:1.

Sources;http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aspect-ratio.htm and http://www.3dmax-tutorials.com/Aspect_Ratio__Glossary_.html

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – File Formats---------------------------------------------------------------JPEGJPEG, which stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital photography (image). The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable trade off between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG

TIFFTIFF, which stands for Tagged Image File Format, is a file format for storing images, popular among graphic artists, the publishing industry, and both amateur and professional photographers in general. The TIFF format is widely supported by image-manipulation applications, by publishing and page layout applications, by scanning, faxing, word processing, optical character recognition and other applications. Adobe own the copyright for the TIFF specification. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIFF

EPSEPS, which stands for Encapsulated PostScript, is intended to be usable as a graphics file format. It forms the basis of early versions of the Adobe Illustrator Artwork file format. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encapsulated_PostScript

PSDPSD is a file extension for Adobe Photoshop. It stands for Photoshop Document. A PSD file stores an image with support for most imaging options available in Photoshop. These include layers with masks, colour spaces, ICC profiles, CMYK Mode (used for commercial printing), transparency, text, alpha channels and spot colours, clipping paths, and duotone settings. This is in contrast to many other file formats (e.g. .EPS or .GIF) that restrict content to provide streamlined, predictable functionality. A PSD file has a maximum height and width of 30,000 pixels. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop#File_format

PDFPDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Colour Models-------------------------------------------------------------------

A color model is an orderly system for creating a whole range of colors from a small set of primary colors. There are two types of color models, those that are subtractive and those that are additive. Additive color models use light to display color while subtractive models use printing inks. Colors perceived in additive models are the result of transmitted light. Colors perceived in subtractive models are the result of reflected light.

CMYK Color Model

Subtractive color modelFor printed material

Uses ink to display colorColors result from reflected light

Cyan+Magenta+Yellow=Black

RGB Color Model

Additive color modelFor computer displaysUses light to display colorColors result from transmitted lightRed+Green+Blue=White

Source - http://www.sketchpad.net/basics4.htm

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Photoshop-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.

There are many, many features in Photoshop but here are the main ones

CROPPING & SLICING These are used when you want to discard a certain part of an image.DRAWING By using the pen tool, you can create precise paths that can be manipulated using anchor points. The freeform pen tool allows the user to draw paths freehand, and with the magnetic pen tool, the drawn path attaches closely to outlines of objects in an image, which is useful for isolating them from a background.PAINTING A few of the painting tools in Photoshop are the brush, pencil, gradient and paint bucket tools. These can be used to retouch images by altering and adding coloured pixels. MEASURING & NAVIGATION The eyedropper tool selects a colour from an area of the image that is clicked, and samples it for future use. The hand tool navigates an image by moving it in any direction, and the zoom tool enlarges the part of an image that is clicked on, allowing for a closer view.SELECTION The marquee tool can make selections that are single row, single column, rectangular and elliptical. Once an area of an image is highlighted, the move tool can be used to manually relocate the selected piece to anywhere on the canvas. The lasso tool is similar to the marquee tool, however, the user can make a custom selection by drawing it freehand. In addition, the lasso tool can make magnetic and polygonal selections.TYPING The type tools create an area where text can be entered, and the type mask tools create a selection area that has the shape of text. The type tool creates vector-based text, so symbols, letters and numbers in various fonts and colours can be re-sized while maintaining the same resolution.RETOUCHING There are several tools that are used for retouching, manipulating and adjusting photos, such as the clone stamp, eraser, burn, dodge, smudge and blur tools. The clone stamp samples a part of an image and duplicates it. The eraser simply ‘rubs out’ anything you don’t want, the burn tool darkens selected areas, the dodge tool lightens selected areas, the smudge tool stretches pixels as if they are real paint.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Illustrator------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Here is a list of pretty much every feature available on Illustrator.

GRAPH CREATION LAYERS LIVE EDITING IN PREVIEW MODE SPELL CHECKER FIND/REPLACE TEXTGRADIENTS EYE DROPPER PAINT BUCKET TABBED DOCKABLE PALETTES TRANSFORM PALETTES ALIGN PALETTE

Photoshop PIXEL FILTERS RASTERISE PUNK BLOAT FREE DISTORT LAYOUT GRID VERTICAL TEXT TOOL PENCIL TOOLBOUNDING BOX HANDLES SMART GUIDES ACTIONS PALETTE BITMAP EYEDROPPER GRADIENT MESH LIVE BRUSHES

LINKS PALETTE FLASH & SVG OUTPUT PIXEL PREVIEW RELEASE TO LAYERS DROP SHADOWS TRANSPARENCY FEATHERING OPACITY & LAYER MASK NATIVE PDF SUPPORT LIVE PATHFINDER SHAPES SYMBOLS SLICING

CSS LAYER SUPPORT ODBC DATA LINK VARIABLES PALETTE SAVE FOR WEB LIVE DISTORTION WARPINGENVELOPES (WARP/MESH/TOP OBJECT) LIQUIFY TOOLS GRID/LINE/ARC/POLAR TOOLS FLARE TOOL MAGIC WAND

3D EFFECT OpenType SUPPORT CHARACTER & PARAGRAPH STYLES TEMPLATE FILE FORMAT SCRIBBLE EFFECTCOLUMNS & ROWS OPTICAL KERNING OPTICAL MARGINS EVERY-LINE COMPOSER CUSTOM TAB LEADERS

WYSIWYG FONT MENU JAPANESE TYPE SUPPORT PATH TYPE OPTION SAVE FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE LIVE TRACELIVE PAINT COLOURISED GRAYSCALE Photoshop LAYER SUPPORT EXPANDED STROKE OPTIONS CONTROL PALETTE

Adobe Bridge SUPPORT Wacom TABLET SUPPORT SVG-T EXPORT PDF/X EXPORT LIVE COLOUR Flash INTERGRATIONERASER TOOL DOCUMENT PROFILES CROP AREA ISOLATION MODE MULTIPLE ARTBOARDS

TRANSPARENCY IN GRADIENTS BLOB BRUSH LIVE GRADIENT EDITING SEPARATIONS PREVIEWSIN-PALETTE APPEARANCE EDITING PERSPECTIVE DRAWING TOOLS VARIABLE-WIDTH STROKES

CONTROL OVER OPACITY IN POINTS ON GRADIENT MESHES SHAPE BUILDER TOOL BRISTLE BRUSH (WHICH ENABLES USERS TO IMITATE REAL LIFE BRUSH STROKES WHILE MAINTAINING VECTOR FORMAT)

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign---------------------------------------------------------------------

Adobe InDesign is a software application produced by Adobe Systems. It can be used to create works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers and books. InDesign can also publish content suitable for tablet devices in conjunction with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Graphic designers and production artists are the principal users, creating and laying out periodical publications, posters, and print media. It also supports export to EPUB and SWF formats to create digital publications, and content suitable for consumption on tablet computer devices. The Adobe InCopy word processor uses the same formatting engine as InDesign.TEXT SETTINGSInDesign Middle Eastern versions come with special settings for laying out Arabic or Hebrew text, such as:Ability to use Arabic, Persian or Hindi digits Use kashidas for letter spacing and full justification Ligature option Set vowels/diacritics positioning Justify text in three possible ways to get the desired results (Standard, Arabic, Naskh) Option to "Insert Special Character": three Hebrew characters (Geresh, Gershayim, Maqaf) and an Arabic one (Kashida) Apply standard, Arabic or Hebrew styles for page, paragraph and footnote numberingBI-DIRECTION TEXT FLOWIn InDesign Middle Eastern versions, the notion of right-to-left behaviour applies to several objects: Story, Paragraph, Character and Table. You can easily mix Right-to-Left and Left-to-Right Words, Paragraphs and Stories in a document.InDesign CS4 Middle Eastern versions allow you to change in one click the direction of neutral characters (for ex.:,/?, etc.) according to your keyboard language.TABLE OF CONTENTSYou can create a table of contents (TOC) for any document or book in InDesign Middle Eastern versions. InDesign Middle Eastern versions come with a set of Table of contents titles, one for each supported language. The TOC is also sorted according to the chosen language. InDesign CS4 Middle Eastern versions allow you to choose the language of your index title and cross-references by right clicking in the title field in the Generate Index window.

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign---------------------------------------------------------------------

INDICESInDesign allows for the creation of a simple keyword index or a somewhat more detailed index of the information in your book using embedded indexing codes which are instantiated as an index using a command in the Indexing palette. Unlike more sophisticated programs, InDesign is incapable of inserting character style information as part of an index entry (e.g., when indexing book, journal or movie titles). Indices are limited to four levels (top level and three sub-levels). InDesign Middle Eastern versions let you set various Sort Options for your indices according to the language with which you are dealing.There are no provisions for importing index entries as part of an XML file.IMPORTING AND EXPORTINGInDesign Middle Eastern versions bring the capability of opening directly and converting QuarkXPress files, even using Arabic XT, Arabic Phonyx or Hebrew XPressWay fonts, retaining the layout and content. InDesign Middle Eastern versions come with more than 50 import/export filters enabling you to place many kinds of images and Roman texts: Microsoft Word 97-98-2000 Import filter and Text Import filter. QuarkXPress data can be converted to InDesign with Markzware's Q2ID. InDesign can also be used as a front end on top of database applications, such as CCI Europe's NewsGate software.REVERSE LAYOUTInDesign Middle Eastern versions include a reverse layout feature to reverse the layout of a document, when converting a Left to Right document (Roman) to a Right to Left one (Arabic or Hebrew) or vice versa. It is also helpful when creating a multilingual document.The Middle Eastern versions are also available for Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe In Copy, and Adobe Dreamweaver, and also for Adobe Creative Suite (Design Standard, Design Premium, Web Premium).

BTec Level 3Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production

HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign---------------------------------------------------------------------

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator

COMPLEX SCRIPT RENDERINGInDesign supports Unicode character encoding and there is a special Middle East version supporting complex text layout for Arabic and Hebrew types of complex script. The underlying Arabic and Hebrew support is present in the Western-language editions of InDesign CS4 and CS5, but the user interface is not exposed, so it is difficult to access.There is a third party tool, IndicPlus from a custom plug-in development company named MetaDesign Solutions, that adds capability to render Indic and other complex scripts with InDesign. This tool is available for CS2/CS3/CS4/CS5/CS5.5 versions of InDesign, for both Windows and Macintosh platforms and adds the much needed complex script based languages support in InDesign. It adds the ability to edit and treat text in a wide range of languages. Some of these include Arabic, Assamese, Azeri, Bengali, Farsi, Georgian, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer (Cambodian), Lao, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, amongst others. It supports all Unicode based fonts