What is multimedia?

MC11U PresentationChad Ambo620005966April 20, 2009

Multimedia can be defined as media that combines different content forms such as text, audio, still images, animation and video to get a multi-faceted finished product.

Compared to traditional media professionals in areas such as radio, multimedia professionals should possess various technical skills such as photography, web and graphic design.

Multimedia Road Map showing Skills and Careers in Multimedia.

MULTIMEDIA AND DESIGNDesign: the process of creating and actualizing a plan for a product, structure or system by research, thought, modelling, adjustment and re-design.

Multimedia professionals should be problem solvers with the ability to design.

Designers make a deliberate attempt to create something that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

To create the flyer to the right, the graphic designer likely used research and analysis to conceptualize and create a flyer which :• Communicates the advertisement message.• Looks good and appeals to the target audience.

In multimedia, design is central to working in graphics, motion, sound, typography and particularly web design.

WEB DESIGN SKILL:PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography: the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures.

Multimedia professionals use photographs for purposes such as:• Advertising• Fashion• Photo-journalism

In multimedia , skills extend further than simple taking of pictures.

Multimedia professionals engage in the manipulation of photographs using programs such as Adobe Photoshop. This pixel-based image editor can be used for simple procedures such as removing red-eye from photos, or advanced techniques such as painting on 3D models.

In Web Design, photographs are classified as the observable content of the websites. They add color and imagery to multimedia websites and complement the audio, text and video content.

WEB DESIGN SKILL: TYPOGRAPHY

Typography: The art and techniques of arranging type, type design and modifying type glyphs.

Multimedia professionals use typography for purposes such as:• Poster, sign and billboard designs• Advertising• Wordmarks and logos• Kinetic typography in motion pictures/films• Web page designs

Typography places a premium on readability and legibility ie. Ease of reading the text presented on a webpage, flyer etc.

Graphic designers focus on display typography, combining type with graphic elements and pictures. This is a key element of poster and flyer creation as well as web design.

Display typography is commonly done by multimedia professionals using applications such as Adobe Photoshop which was discussed in the previous slide.

TYPES OF ANIMATION

Hand-drawn Stop-motion 2D 3D

2D

3D HAND DRAWN

Interview with Third-Year Multimedia Student Richard Mitchel

Qt: Why did you choose the multimedia specialization?Ans: I chose multimedia because I wanted to do a specialization which focuses on using computers.

Qt: What are the various skills/applications you have had to learn during your time as a multimedia student at Carimac?Ans: The main skills/ applications have been; flash using Adobe Flash, photoshop using Adobe Photoshop, lay-out/visual hierarchy, web development using Dreamweaver and video-editing using Final Cut Pro.

Qt: What do you plan on doing with these skills when you graduate?Ans: I will probably seek employment with an advertising firm which needs my skills.

Qt: What is the multimedia final year show and what will you be doing?Ans: The final year show is where students get the opportunity to choose one of the multimedia disciplines such as video editing or web design and produce a finished product showcasing their skills. I am currently building a website named ZuneJamaica as my presentation.

Internet Resources

Information• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typography• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design• http://dbain.com/what-is-multimedia• http://skillset.org/animation/

Photographs/images• http://io-noi-aldo.sonance.net/blogpix/pixar.png• http://

media.photobucket.com/image/club%20flyer/biglunny/thabloocpartyflyer_sized.jpg

• http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/images/D3S_2078-600.jpg

• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/143359854_6fb7f5136c.jpg

• http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/feature_stories/2006/images/06animation-fur.jpg

• http://weloveart.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/untitled4.jpg

• http://www.saicreative.net/images/2d-animation1-1.gif

Videos• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqwdUI6-6GU

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiyKoYaMVL0

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MKesqh8q1k