Video and Motion Graphics students learn to use a vast array of software, as it encompasses many elements of visual media. In 3D Modeling, students will gain knowledge and experience in 2D/3D postproduction. Topics include special effects, environment creation, and 3D logo design. Upon completion of this course, students will have acquired the skills necessary to create special effects such as fire, explosions, and lightning. They will have gained experience creating virtual environments and logos.
After 3D Modeling, 3D Animation presents the fundamental principles involved in 3D and traditional cell animation. Anatomy, bipeds and quadrupeds, frames, cells, backgrounds, paths, and in-betweening are some of the topics covered. Students will view and explore classic and contemporary animation and learn the vocabulary and techniques associated with the production of animated features and shorts. Business aspects of the animation industry are also presented.
Adobe Illustrator® is the industry-standard application for the production of vector graphics. This course teaches students how to design, create, and manipulate vector graphics for use in different media. They will also learn about and use fundamental workflows for media, such as print and video motion graphics, that use both bitmapped and vector resources.
Complementing Adobe Illustrator®, the Introductory Photoshop course teaches students to manipulate and improve bitmap images, create original images, and identify the different formats of digital images. Adobe Photoshop® is a fundamental digital graphic arts tool, and the skills developed in this course will be critical throughout the Video and Motion Graphics and Digital Media Design programs. Advanced Photoshop expands on the concepts learned in Introductory Photoshop. This course will focus on advance image compositing, photo retouching, color correction, and workflow integration with other applications.
Compositing is the practice of combining multiple layers of graphics, animation, and video into one scene. It is often used to create special effects for feature films and sophisticated television advertisements. Students will gain experience in the use of Adobe After Effects,® a popular compositing software application.
Adobe Flash® is a widely used 2D animation and interactive authoring tool. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to create a Flash MX® movie, embed a Flash movie in a web page, design a user interface with Flash, and incorporate interactivity into a Flash presentation.
Digidesign Pro Tools® is the most widely used professional system for recording, editing and mixing music in a computer environment. Students in this course will learn how to set up and operate a Pro Tools LE® system, how to use Pro Tools® total automation and recall of recording sessions; how to record, edit and mix both audio and midi data, and how to incorporate video into their sessions. They will also learn how to use virtual instruments and a variety of editing techniques including elastic audio.
DVD Authoring is a skills-based course emphasizing use of Apple’s DVD Studio Pro® software package. Students will learn how to create a full-featured DVD including: menus, video encoding, audio encoding, file management, and navigational elements.
The Video Editing with Final Cut Pro® course gives students hands-on non-linear editing experience with a number of practical projects applying skills in composition and audio effects in multi-formats and multi-cam footage. Typical projects include: film scenes, television commercials, music videos, and specialty videos.
Compositing is the process of combining multiple elements in a video sequence.This course expands the concepts learned in software applications including; After Effects®, Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Final Cut Pro®, and more. Skills concentration will include alpha channels, motion tracking, stabilization, and perspective matching.
In this course, students apply and develop advanced skills in nonlinear editing using Avid Media Composer®. Students receive additional practice on the professional use of graphics. Avid Media Composer® will allow students to further refine their video production skills.
In Web Authoring, using XHTML to describe information and CSS to control appearance, students build and test websites in the classroom before posting them to a web-accessible server. Adobe Dreamweaver® is used for web authoring tasks in conjunction with other Adobe software. Advanced projects introduce simple scripting techniques such as JavaScript and PHP. This class has a test-out option.
