New Font

After rendering out the test title video I decided to look for a new font which would better suit this technique. I've purchased a new one today, while bold it maintains a sophisticated look that you don't often see among chunkier serif fonts. It comes in three weights, the one featured above is the swash. The font has an epic and timeless quality much like Ragni's music.

Title Work

Playing around with a title to introduce the music video. Ink drop stock footage coupled with a text mask. I feel that the flickering effect would be more effective if it pulsed as opposed to flicker. Also it would be beneficial to choose a bolder font as the ink drop footage maybe too obscure/abstract. When executed properly and combined with music/sound effect, it'll prove an effective addition to the whole piece placed at the beginning or end.

Landscape Test

A rough concept sketch put together to test out a camera pan in Z - space (see video below). However after working on the rough further I found an image with the sensitivity I wanted to convey in the finished work. This colour treatment may very well be used throughout the entire piece. Some more tests will have to be produced to see how the render queue deals with gradients (used below) especially when the video is inevitably compressed.



This effect seems to have worked well. I focused on setting the camera up as though it was on a dolly and have made the movements as natural as possible.

Alt. Opening Test

An example of a camera pan when each layer has been set to a different to a different value on the z-axis. Interesting effect but it needs to be refined, scale and position needs to be adjusted to match and retain the qualities of the original image.

Alt. Opening Scene

Decided the initial opening concept didn't particularly gel well with the rest of the visual theme, still want it to stand out from the rest of the piece but will take a less obvious route. Having representation of both genders would create a more rounded experience. Again manipulation of the z-axis will take paramount as it adds an interesting dynamic to otherwise static images.

Some concept sketches from reference photographs. I feel that they are over rendered and visually the video would benefit from more stylised figure drawings. More expressive lines, less detail. Also the subjects open eyes give them the appearance of fashion illustrations. Closed eyes please.


I'm happy with the overall end result, the incorporation of the 3D effect works well and is in keeping with the surreal optical illusion theme. The position of the two figures provides a sense of unity.

Concept Sketch and Animatic

Just examining my options on what imagery will be used in the 'The Somnambulist' and also the animation possibilities open to me. Expressive strokes and a limited colour palette seem consistent with the visual ground work already set by the band.






Creating a sense of depth within the animation is crucial, this can be achieved by manipulating the Z-axis. Also the use of masking to direct the movement of the viewers eye will be put to effect.

Opening Animatic 1

Possible Opening Sequence

Some concept sketches for the opening sequence. I want it to differ in style to the majority of the animation.

Establishing an Aesthetic

I want to explore the use of optical effects within the illustrations to add to the surreality and provide a more engaging experience. Hence the 3D effects.



Clean, expressive vector strokes and a limited colour palette is the look that I am aiming for.

Hello World...

This blog has been created to open up an instant and direct line of communication between myself and the music artists Ragni. It will chronicle the progress of the project and become a mini-forum which will be used to refine and inform the design process.

Here is a brief overview of the proposed project:

"The main aim of my final year honours project is to collaborate closely with the music artist Ragni to create a piece of motion design/music video that not only complements the music but becomes an extension of the work itself. Emphasis will be placed on traditional hand drawn illustration which will be scanned in and manipulated through a series of digital applications. The subtle balance of traditional and digital elements will then be combined to craft a narrative. The selected piece of music is titled 'The Somnambulist' from Ragni's self-titled debut EP. During the post-production process static images will be transformed into an accomplished piece of motion design. Maintaining a look and feel that mirrors the aesthetics of the chosen piece of music is of vast importance."

I intend to update this blog as regularly as possible, so on with the fun...