LightNight 2016

We had a light projecting brief for light night that everyone could produce a 1second clip and add up to a montage for the show. 

There were not much limitation. We have to base our ideas on 5 elements, earth, wind, fire, air or astronomical. I choose earth, nothing in particular, I want to experiment with new techniques. I always want to try 3D in aftereffect so I did!

My idea is to show the unity of human, we live in groups and work in groups pretty much do everything in groups and that resemble to bees therefore I use cube (same cell symbol) to relate how human is still living closely with the nature.

I tested out how it could done in photoshop first by drawing out cube. It is more difficult than I thought to draw a precise cube, I do not have the eyes to see things in 3D and it took me quite a while have a perfect cube done. The colours help telling which face is the top and the bottom.

But I end up not using this idea because I could not figure out how to include 2D image in a 2D cube... It was so confusing at that point and I decided to go straight to use 3D in aftereffect rather than stucking in 2D photoshop. I also would not be able to make the cube spin if it is in 2D, i would have to draw it so many times in order to achieve a turn around of it.

I looked up tutorial on youtube, learning how to make a 3D cube in Aftereffect. It is very easy surprisingly! Simply make the layer 3D and use shapes to build up like making a present box.

I use flowers and seeds and fruit to symbolise life cycle and they are going to morph into different stages. I want to use simple colours only. We only have a second, so powerful, bold colours and images are used in order to catch attention.

It is also my first time to create pattern animation! I always want to try it, repeating patterns not only safe time, the patterns form interesting visuals and the impact of showing patterns in such a short time might be more unique unlike everyone else.

I think the morphing can be improved. The shapes are not as pretty as it can be but I think audience would not pay attention to details like that in 1 second. I like the result, this is a happy experiment. It makes me want to try more styles especially mixing 3D and 2D.