Final Videos

Below are my final four compositions. I have created a video for each of my three words; bounce, crunch, extend, and an additional video that combines all three words.

Crunch Experiments

Below are several videos that deal with my experimentation of the word crunch. This word had proved the most difficult and I have struggled to create videos that best visually represent something that is 'crunching'. The basic idea throughout the range videos shows my word being squashed or crunched and then crumbling to pieces. I created this effect by first creating layers on photoshop and then importing them. However I faced plenty of problems and struggled to overcome some of the issues. The first video just shows a large H crumbling into pieces, not the best representation of 'crunch', but certainly a place to start. Other videos show my use of white lines, a them which runs throughout all my better videos, and how these lines crunch my word.

Extend, Bounce and Crunch

This post deals with a video that came about unexpectedly, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I had created. I started by extending the 'N' and before I knew it I had turned the extended serif into a set of stairs. I then became at a loss as to where to take 'extend' further, so instead I decided to incorporate another of my words; 'bounce'. To best visualise this I used a small circle to descend the stairs. Then I thought there was a way of including my third word; 'crunch'. So I had my circle bounce on each letter to the left of the 'N' and crunch the letter down into the underline. I think the final composition works well and there is just enough content for a five second clip.

Extend Ideas

Here I have created even more experiments for 'extend'. I would say that the videos below are more of an experiment, helping me gain a greater understanding of After Effects rather than communicating the word to the best of my ability. I tried to create an effect of the word assembling itself on the screen in front of you. I did this by creating separate layers in Photoshop and then having them appear from the left, right, top or bottom and gathering in the centre. I particularly like the top video due to its use of Helvetica Ultra Light Italic.

Finalising Extend

I would say the videos in this post are of a higher standard than my previous attempts and therefore better communicate my word. I think I will pick one of the video's below and fine tune it to create one of my final attempts. I like the idea of extending the T and having it circle the rest of the word, but I also like the fading in shapes of the line found in the second video.

Extend Ideas

Here are my first attempts at working with 'extend'. The basic idea of these videos is the extension of one part of a letter. They seem pretty simple when played back, but the amount of time that it took me to figure out how to lengthen a mask and then add anchor points so it can turn corners was quite great. However the more I played with it, the greater understanding I gained and soon could carry out the same process at a much faster rate.

Crunch Experiments

I am really struggling to create a video that properly communicates 'crunch'. The two video below are quite stark in difference, for example the top one took absolutely ages to create and has quite a complex story, whereas the second is a lot simpler and took not long at all to create. Despite all this I very much prefer the second one and I think the 'crumbling' idea id one that I need to explore further.

Final Bounce Two

Out of all the videos I have created for the word bounce the one below is probably my second best interpretation. I like how the word slides along the underline and then each letter individually flings itself to the bottom of the screen and then off the right hand side all together. 


Below are 14 screen grabs from the video above, and therefore if I choose to use this video I will have to narrow this down to 12.

And below this is what the timeline window looks like for this particular video.

Final Bounce One

Below is a vimeo video of one of my final four clips. I am not a hundred per cent confident on the colour choices but the basic concept is exactly what I was going for. I think it works well because the idea of 'bouncing' is incorporated into two components of the video; the word itself and the underline. I also like how the word both appears and disappears off screen. It took me a while to get all the timings right and to get it as smooth as possible, but I do think playing around with after effects has helped me to learn as I go and I now feel more confident with the software.


Below are screen grabs from what I feel are the key frames within the sequence. There are sixteen in total, however I am sure that if less, or more, where required I could meet both requirements.

And finally visible below is a screen capture of my layers window within after effects. It shows all the key frames from each layer and when and where they become animated. It also helps reinforce the small timeframe I had to work within. I initially thought five seconds was a long time and I would have no idea of how to fill it, but I soon realised it was in fact the other way round. Too many ideas and not enough time.

More Bounce

Bounce Experiments

Crunch Experiments

Colours: Bounce

Colours: Crunch Two

Below are possible colour schemes. I like the idea of using bright colours, as I think they will make the videos more aesthetically appealling. The reason behind the use of columns is due to an early storyboard idea that I had that involved the letters appearing on screen and then crumbling.

The images below show use of different tints within the same colour. I think the restrictions we have been given of black and white and one colour are quite strict and therefore I want to think of a way around this. Using tints seems to be the most appropriate.

Colours: Crunch

Here are some initial colour ideas. We have been told that we must work with only black, white and one other colour. I want that one other colour to be bold and bright. I am aiming to create videos that follow the same formula as the infamous Saul Bass. Therefore I will be using clean lines and a neat typeface. Below are some early design ideas.

Crunch

After Effects: Session Three

Storyboards

Bounce

Bounce