Digital Graphic Narrative

Development

Dominic Midgley

Shape Task

Evaluation

What did you like about your image?One of my favourite things about this image is shading on the legs and on the bottom of the capybaras stomach. I also like the combination of the stroke tool and gradient tool, to make the eyelids of the capybara. I also like the use of the burn tool to make the claws of the animal a bit more obvious.

What would you improve if you did it again?I would like to work more on the fur of the capybara. I’d like to give the image some texture to it, to make it look that little bit more realistic. I’d also like to put more shading around its nose, to give it more definition, and to give it more of a 3D feel.

Rotoscope

Evaluation

What did you like about your image?I like the use of shading in the image because it gives the face more definition. I also like the rotoscope technique, as you can get really effective cartoon-like results with ease. I also like the light dodging I used on the top of his head, to accentuate his baldness.

What would you improve if you did it again?I would add more bits of shading to his face, especially around the eyes, to really bring out the shape of his face. In the original image I chose, you could also see the top of his torso - his blazer and shirt - and I would like add that to the image, to make the image more portrait-like. I would also work to find more realistically coloured lips, as I believe they’re a little bit too pink.

Text Based

Evaluation

What did you like about your image?I like the use of the shot of space to make it more eye catching. I also found a preset shape on photoshop of a set of diagonal lines, which I essentially cut out of the text, and it gives the image more texture, and more aesthetically pleasing.What would you improve if you did it again?If I were to do it again, I would probably find a brighter background image to make the it more contrasting with everything else. For example a seascape or a beach shot, something more vibrant to make it stand out that bit more.

Comic Book

Comic Book

Comic Book 3

Comic Book 4

Evaluation

What did you like about your image(s)?I really like the diverse effects you can get from using the filter gallery What would you improve if you did them again?

Photography – Happy

Photography – Sad

Photography – Excited

Photography – Lonely

Evaluation

What did you like about your image?I like the fact the images clearly display the emotions, so there’s no confusion as to how the subjects are feeling.What would you improve if you did it again?I would try and be more diverse with my subjects and surroundings, and maybe add some post production to them to really clearly pin point what emotion is being displayed. Maybe adding a cold filter to a sad image, or make the image monochrome

Illustration

Illustration

EvaluationWhat did you like about your image?I like the fact that these images would be suitable for a children’s book, nothingWhat would you improve if you did it again?I would try and make more drawings. I would also try and make the laptop less hyper-realistic, so its more suitable for a kids cartoon book.

Initial Ideas

ProposalDimensions

8-12 pages, Length 24 x Height 19 cm (similar to landscape A4 but smaller)

Story OverviewThe mouse is walking along minding his own business, when he accidentally steps on a lions paw, waking it up. The lion is angry and threatens to eat the mouse. The mouse points out that a small little thing like himself won't satisfy the lions hunger. The lion agrees and leaves. Later, the mouse sees the lion trapped in a net. The mouse remembers the lions mercy and gnaws at the rope, setting the lion free. They become the best of friends.

Export Format

PDF, JPEG

Advantages: PDF – It’s a high quality file for printing, can be viewed easily and freely.JPEG – Small file, suitable for use on a presentation or blog.Disadvantages: PDF – A very large file size, requires separate freeware to view.JPEG – A low quality file, compresses and loses quality with every save.

Deadline

15th May 2015

Audience

The audience I’m aiming for is the demographic of children aged 5-8, of any gender and class. The moral of the story is a positive message that everyone of every age should follow, so aiming at the more developed age of children in terms of reading/writing means reinforcing the message from an early age. In some respects, it’s possible that this book will appeal to young males as opposed to females, because the use of lions is more traditionally appealing to males. That being said, I’d hope that gender stereotypes would not be a factor, and that any child of any gender would be able to enjoy it.

Production Methods

I will use photoshop to create book. My plan is to find existing stock images of the different elements of my story, ie lions, mice, safari/jungle landscape, using the filter gallery cutout effect on the landscape, then rotoscoping that to give a cartoon effect, making it unrecognisable from the original image. I want to do this with the landscape because I want it to look simple, with a small range of vibrant colours to keep the attention of children, but so it doesn’t distract them to much. For the characters, I’ll be simply rotoscoping already existing images, and use the burn tool to get the shading on the characters where necessary. I want the book to be a modern twist on and old classic fable, and I feel these techniques will reinforce the more modern style.

What are the strengths of the proposal? What areas of the proposal need further work?

The proposal is good because it shows that you have a good idea of what the story is and what you are going to do when making your children’s story book.

There isn’t much you can change with this however, you could say how you would get the different effects to make your book and why you have done this.

What are the strengths of the idea generation? What areas of idea generation could have been further developed?

The idea generation is your strongest part, just because I think you have a clear examples of what you want to do, this shows that you know just how you want to do the story and how well you have it set out in your head. This allows you to get more into the story and make it exactly how you want it done.

I think you could have showed us a few other ideas you have had and different stories you could have done, just to show that you understand other ways you could have done this book.

WELL DONE

What are the strengths of the proposal? What areas of the proposal need further work?

The overall proposal shows that your story idea and how it will be presented has been well thought through. The proposal is thorough and precise and gives me a clear understanding of what you plan to do.

Besides maybe a slight bit more detail about the audience, I do not think that you need to do any more work on your proposal. It gives all the information it is required to give.

What are the strengths of the idea generation? What areas of idea generation could have been further developed?

The mind map and Mood board are very thought through. The show that you’ve thought about all the aspects of producing a children's book. The mind map is a good resource to use when finishing the final plan for a book because it gives you a few different ways of completing each part of the design e.g the illustration style.

You could possibly create 2 separate mood boards, One for the characters and one for the setting. This would allow you to give a lot more detail about each and give the reader of your proposal/plan a better understanding about what you want your characters and setting to look like.

What are the strengths of the proposal? What areas of the proposal need further work?

The proposal is good as there is a lot of detail as to what you are going but there is also a lot of information on how you are going to make the book suitable for the age that you have chosen. I also really like the story as it will be appealing to children and the parents buying it as it is not just a story it is a book with a lesson and a moral.

There is not a lot of things too add to the proposal, however I would say there could be a little bit more detail in the audience and specify if you do think that the male audience may like it more than a female audience.

What are the strengths of the idea generation? What areas of idea generation could have been further developed?

You have done a lot in the idea generation and I think that you have added some good points on what you want to do with the text and how there is some difficulties with some of the lettering so you could not use it through the book. The mind map showed things that you had in mind and looking though your other idea generation it shows that you have grown with the idea to make the one that you really want to do.

I think the mood board needs a little more information showing what you originally started with. And maybe also making the characters separate from the scenes and just adding more detail about the scenes.

Feedback Summary

Sum up your feedback.

The feedback I received was generally positive. The main theme was that the proposal is good, but little details can be added to improve it a bit further. The feedback on the idea generation was also positive, people commenting on the detail of the mind map and mood board especially. It was also very helpful, making me notice bits which could do with more detail, allowing me to potentially improve my grade.

Which parts of your feedback do you agree with and why?I agree with the fact that the audience section of my proposal needs some work, bulking it up to further improve my grade. I also agree with the feedback that I should maybe do another mood board, separating the characters of the book and the location the book is set in, to allow to give more detail on both aspects of the book. I also agree with the fact that the book will appeal to the parents as well as the kids, with the message of the book being a very positive one.

Which parts of your feedback do you disagree with and why?

I don’t think I necessarily agree with outlining which gender the book would appeal to more. I feel the book is completely neutral and would appeal to children of any gender and class, with the message being universal.

Basic Story Breakdown1. Mouse walking along2. Accidentally steps on something3. It’s a very angry lion! “you woke me up! I’m going to eat you!”4. “I’m only a small thing! Theres no point in you eating me”5. “You have a good point, I wont eat you” 6. The next day… 7. Mouse going about its business, notices a loud roar, 8. Goes to investigate, sees the lion caught in a net by some

hunter89. The Mouse gnaws at the net, releasing the lion10. The lion is very grateful to the mouse for saving its life.11. The lion and the mouse become the best of friends.

Alternative Story Plan1. Mouse walking along2. Accidentally steps on something3. It starts moving4. It’s a very angry lion! “you woke me up! I’m going to eat you!”5. “You shouldn’t eat me, I may be able to help you one day”6. Greatly amused this comment from the mouse, the lion lets him go7. Mouse going about its business, being extra careful. 8. Notices a loud roar, goes to investigate9. Sees the lion caught in a net by some hunters10. The Mouse gnaws at the net, releasing the lion11. The lion is very grateful to the mouse for saving its life.12. The lion and the mouse become the best of friends. “Little friends

may prove to be great friends”.

Original Script - Variation #1

Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse. Little friends may prove great friends.

http://www.worldoftales.com/fables/Aesop_fables/Aesop_Fables_3.html

Original Script - Variation #2

A mouse happens upon a sleeping lion in the forest. Unwisely, he climbs up onto the lion and boasts about how mice need not be scared of lazy lions. The lion, by now not asleep, grabs the mouse and prepares to eat it.The mouse pleads for its life by claiming that one day it will be able to help the lion. The lion, finding this thought ridiculous, lets the mouse go.The next day, the mouse is indeed able to help the lion, who is attached to a tree by some rope. The mouse gnaws through the rope to save the lion, who thanks him and praises his bravery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/17-24/lion_mouse

Final Script

1. One day in the jungle,A small mouse was walking along.

He was ever so happy,Singing a happy song.

2. As he was walking by,He stepped on something furry and long.

He had woken a lion!He knew he’d done wrong…

3. “How dare you!” roared the lion,“You woke me from my sleep!”

“You must pay for what you’ve done!”“You’ll be lovely to eat!”

4. “Please!” said the Mouse,“I am only a small creature”

“You would not be full from eating me”“Why not a fish or even a… beaver?”

5. The Lion agrees with the Mouse,And lets him run away.

“Wake me up again” says the Lion,“And you will be my prey!”

6. Some Days Later…

7. Again the mouse walks along,This time he hears a loud roar.

“What could that be?” says the mouseAs he goes to find out more…

8. The mouse sees the lionWho has been trapped in a net!

“I can save you Lion”“I can finally pay my debt”

Final Script (Continued…)

9. The mouse gnaws at the net,With his sharp front teeth.

The Lion has been released! The Lion has been freed!

10. “Thank you small friend”The Lion beamed with delight

“You saved my life today”“Can we forget our little fight?”

11. The Lion and The MouseBecame the best of friends

They learned to put their differences aside…

12. THE END

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 1 & 2

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 3 & 4

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 5 & 6

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 7 & 8

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 9 & 10

Digital Flat Plans – Pages 11 & 12