Illustration and Visual Narrative - Project 3 & Final Project: Graphic Novel & Motion Comic

13 Oct 2022 - 03 Nov 2022 (Week 7 - Week 14)
Vincent Lee// 0359386
Illustration and Visual Narrative // Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media // Taylor's University (TDS)
Project 3 & Final Project: Motion Comic

LIST/ JUMPLINK
Instructions

Feedback

Reflection

LECTURES

Class Summary

Week 7

Briefing of Project 3 and Final Project by Ms. Anis

Introduce of storytelling basics such as 3 Acts Structure and Characters

3 Acts Structure
(by studio binder)

Characters

Cover Page Discussions

American comic deals a lot with the character thus the comic cover page is more pop art style of design
Artist recommended for visual references: Mike Mignola, Chris Ware and Jimmy Corrigan
90% AI and PS is for warping or for multiple blending mode effect

Week 8

Today is our independent learning week. We are instructed to construct our narrative writing and conduct visual research for our comic cover page.

Week 9

Finalise on our 3-Acts Structure Narrative Writing
Discussion on the cover page design and instructed to submit by next week and present sketches for Final Project: Introduction.
Lecture on several shortcuts when working with AI tools.

Week 10

Ms. Anis and Mr. Hafiz review and discuss on our comic cover page individually.
Mr. Hafiz lecture us on the composition and we were instructed to complete the sketches for Final Project: Introduction.
Mr. Hafiz provide constructive ideas based on our comic cover design and he demonstrated it for us to have better understanding on what he think is the best.
We were given sufficient time to alter minor mistakes and try on another kind of design and arrangement for our comic cover.
The class was dismissed earlier.

Week 11

Presenting of sketches for Final Project: Introduction

Recap on 3 Acts Structure

Mr. Hafiz lectures us on the transitions for our Comic Design: Introduction.

Scott McLoud’s transitions

Figure 1.1 - Scott McCloud’s 6 categories of panel-to-panel transitions

(sources from The Sequential Press)

Figure 1.2 - Scott McCloud’s 6 categories of panel-to-panel transitions

(sources from The Sequential Press)

Week 12 - Week 14

Consultation hours for Final Project: Graphic Novel and Motion Comic.

INSTRUCTIONS

Module Information Booklet

Project 3 & Final Project: Graphic Novel & Motion Comic Brief

Project 3: Original Comic Pilot Story

- Narrative Writing

Act 1 - Setup

Beatrice and Alicia are orphans. They eat and sleep in London's back alleys. They are inextricably linked.

Act 2- Conflict

A detective approached Beatrice one day and informed her that she is the heir to a wealthy family in Singapore. Both girls were stunned, but they were also thinking something else. They were talking about it at night, while Alicia was cooking dinner. Alicia becomes ill the next day. Beatrice was worried because the situation was deteriorating and there was no one to help.

Act 3- Resolution

Unfortunately, Beatrice and Alicia died on that fateful night. This is due to Alicia's collusion with the detective, who wanted the detective to identify Alicia as the daughter of a wealthy family. As a result, Beatrice was supposed to die in this situation. Alicia's plan worked out well. However, before she died, Beatrice told Alicia that she had no intention of reuniting with her original family because they were already family. Alicia was heartbroken and remorseful. She should not have done this to Beatrice, or she should have brought it up and spoken to her nicely. Alicia committed suicide last.

Project 3: Graphic Novel - Cover Page

- Visual Research

Figure 1.1 - Minimal Movie Poster Designs

After the narrative writing, we are required to do a cover page of our story to promote our comic. Thus I had conducted visual research on Pinterest to conduct some visual explorations as Mr. Hafiz and Ms. Anis also encourage us to play with the negative space, and not just fill up the entire space or design like the American comic cover page.

More Inspirations 👉🏻 My Pinterest Board

- Sketches and Idea Explorations

These designs are all produced with using Procreate. After conformation with Ms. Anis and Mr. Hafiz, the design will be created in Adobe Illustrator.

Figure 1.2 - Sketch #1, Week 9 (27 Oct 2022)

This design is my first attempt on creating my poster , it is a boring and dull design.

Figure 1.3 - Sketch #2, Week 9 (27 Oct 2022)

Symbolising the story with a heart and knife, however, there is lack of connection between the title and design.

Figure 1.4 - Sketch #3 & #4, Week 9 (27 Oct 2022)

Due to the title of my poster - The Alley, I decided to further illustrate my cover page by combining the main characters with the main scene of the whole story.

Figure 1.5 - Sketch #5 and #6, Week 9 (27 Oct 2022)

After a few attempts, I am delighted with this two sketches as the combination of the character and the main scene of this story is perfectly illustrated in addition with the weapon used in this story.

Final Comic Cover Page

Figure 1.6 - Final Comic Cover Page, Week 10 (03 Nov 2022)

Concept

This design is the improved version of Fig. 1.2 - Sketch #1.

The characters on both side shows the conflict of the main characters. The line from the center expanding to the bottom of the both end is illustrating the actual scene of an alley. Then the space in the middle is illustrated by a sharp knife which is the main weapon in this comic. Thus, include the knife gives audience a direct hint on the ending of the story however what leads to the tragedy, thus might require audience to study on it.

Final Project: Motion Comic - One-Page Introduction

- Visual Research

Figure 1.7 - Layouts Study, Week 14 (01 Dec 2022)
(from Pinterest)

Figure 1.8 - Layout Study, Week 14 (01 Dec 2022)

I went to Pinterest to conduct some studies on the layout arrangement to present my story in a more orderly sequence.

- Progress and Idea Explorations

I chose a four to five panel for my one-page introduction to illustrate the ending of my story because I believe it is the climax to denouement of my entire story, where Alicia believes Beatrice will reunite with her original family and leave her alone.

Figure 1.9 - Attempt #1, Week 14 (01 Dec 2022)

This is my first attempt on digitising my one-page introduction. However, I found it messy as the characters does not fits in the box well thus distract the main focus of my story. Another than that, I also found the arm of the girl holding the knife is weird as the arm and align with the shoulder.

Figure 1.10 - Attempt #2, Week 14 (01 Dec 2022)

At this attempts, I keep everything within the border to make it clean for my readers. Besides, I had change my layout to a four panels layout. I As can be seen in attempt #2, panel 2 and panel 3 is having a large white space, thus I fill the space with colours to enhance the message such as orange to represent the victim is shocking and purple represent the evilness of the murderer.

Final One-Page Introduction

Figure 1.11 - Final One-Page: Introduction, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

Final Project: Motion Comic - Animated One-Page Introduction

- Progression

Figure 1.12 - Layer Arrangement, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

I decided to animate Panel 3 as it has more story to tell where showing the motion of waving the knife to kill. First, I re-name and re-arrange the path of each panel into one layer. Then, I exported them as JPEG file for merging purpose and PSD. file for animation purpose.

Figure 1.13 - Creating of Timeline and Layers, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

I open the PSD file in Photoshop then I applied the techniques and knowledge learned from Typography class to conduct the animation. Besides, I also referred to a tutorial video from Youtube on using puppet tool to allow me to create/control the motion of the arm.

Figure 1.14 - Merging of Frames and Layers, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

Upon selecting and copy all the frames, I paste the frames to the JPEG file of my One-Page Introduction in Photoshop.

Figure 1.15 - Adjust and Export, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

Final Outcome of Animating One-Page Introduction

Figure 1.16 - Final Animated One-Page Introduction, Extended Week (08 Dec 2022)

Submission Slides: Final Project. pptx

FEEDBACK:

Week 8 (Narrative Writing)

Ms. Anis commented simple and plot twist on my narrative writing.

Week 9 (Cover Page)

Ms. Anis said that the initial sketch is not achieving balance, complicated and no space given for the title of my comic.

Week 10 (Cover Page)

Ms. Anis commented that both sketch in Fig. 1.5 does not show the conflict between the two girls at all. After discussion, Ms. Anis suggested that to if I don't want my cover page tell the whole story, then maybe I could remove the pool of blood and remain the dagger as shown in Fig. 1.4 - Sketch #4.

Ms. Anis mentioned that the cover page is well-designed however, lack of critical thinking. She advised me to add texture on it do show contrast. In addition, re-considered the typeface chosen.

Mr. Hafiz advised me to do something similar to double exposure and he had demonstrated in Fig. 2.1 for us to have an overall preview of his ideas.

Fig. 2.1 - Sample from Mr. Hafiz, Week 10 (03 Nov 2022)

REFLECTION:

At first, it was fairly an easy and fun module as the lecturers are being supportive all the time. They assist and provide us the knowledge of designing a comic and they guide us on our design to make our ideas come thru. I love that Ms. Anis and Mr. Hafiz always being funny and sarcasm at the same time as it initiates a positive interactions within the student and lecturers and always make the class less boring.

Next, I enjoyed working on Project 3, in which we were required to write our own story and design a cover page for it. However, in the following weeks, I found myself with no progress on the final project because the class was cancelled due to holidays, so I was demotivate to complete it on time. Furthermore, while working on my final project, which required us to create a one-page introduction, I found myself unable to express the scenario/story because I couldn't find any images for me to trace based on what I had expected. I also find it difficult to conduct the animation part because there are no specific instructions or being taught on doing it.

QUICK LINKS

Task 1: Exercises and Vormator Challenge

Project 2: Digital Triptych

Project 3 & Final Project: Graphic Novel and Motion Comic

Vincent Lee | 0359386

Illustration and Visual Narrative - Project 3 & Final Project: Graphic Novel & Motion Comic

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