For the second exploration of craft/technique, I decided to explore the program we use in the AV classes - Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 - to create overlays.
My experimentation:
Reflection: It has been awhile since I've made complex graphics in a non-linear editor (NLE) instead of turning to a motion graphics program like After Effects. It can be both satisfying and annoying! Sometimes it takes the NLE forever to render so I can watch what I've created and better understand where I need to make changes. When my students comment about time spent waiting for rendering or exporting their files I usually laugh and say (in my elder voice), "5 minutes to export?... While back in my day we could have went out for a cup of coffee and come back with time to spare..." (Rendering and exporting of video from NLEs has been getting faster and faster as technology evolves.) Rendering and exporting this exploration reminds me how and why the students get fidgety waiting for the software to process video!
It seems as though the immediacy of art is important to children. "Five minutes to export" seems like an eternity for the impatient (anyone under 18 years of age). The faster the technology, the more likely one is to explore the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about speed allowing for additional exploration. Good technology matters and they didn't spare any expense when setting up our IT Program media lab. The students never complain about the power of the machines they have to use, they usually gain a new appreciation for what it takes to process high quality video and graphics!
ReplyDeleteI've found that if I prepare the students in advance, letting them know they may have lengthy processing times, they will plan other explorations or image/idea gathering activities to fill the time. It's usually when the wait is unexpected, that it's the most annoying for them!