My Blogs and Thoughts

1. What does the header image convey about your website, and how does this relate to meeting the information needs of your target audience?

     The header image clearly shows that this website is about art and creativity. With the eyeball placed in the middle, I wanted to convey the creativity of "see you in the other side" and create a darker image for my website with the black and white colors of the website. I added the fire effects through multiple layerings, since I wanted to show my firing desire of creating art and staying creative for my passion. This header image would grab a lot of my audience since I'm targeting people who are interested in art and whoever wants to be creative through this website.

2. Where did you find your source images? How do you know that you are allowed to reuse them? 

     The back ground of the picture is a digital art that I've created while I was just playing around with the new iPad. The second picture is the dripping effect picture that I got through Pinterest. I knew it was allowed to reuse them since the first picture I used is something I created. The second picture, the fire effects, was from Pinterest and it was the transparent png, which means anyone can use it for their good. Also, when I clicked the link through the google search of the image, it notified me saying "Transparent Png is pure and creative PNG image uploaded by Designer. To search more free PNG image on vhv.rs". 

3. Briefly address the production process. How did you make use of image editing techniques described in Manovich's article to create a multi-layer image?

     I used PhotoShop Adobe to create two layers, one for the background (the actual picture of my digital art) and one for the fire effects. I clip masked the fire effect to multi-layer on top of the background and moved it around to where I wanted the effect to be. Additionally, I also changed the saturation of the background into black so it matches the black and white theme for my website. However, kept the color for the fire effects to emphasize the spark in the background. I already knew how to multi-layer and use effects on PhotoShop, however, I still read the Manovich's article and seemed like I followed the direction on his article.

4. Compare your production process to that of a single-layer bitmap image of the sort that Davison describes. How is it similar or different?

     My production process to Davison's description of a single-layer bitmap image was similar since I also combined two pictures and created two dimension. I layered the pictures on top of each other perfectly so that it seems like a one picture from the beginning. I lined the two pictures up together perfectly on top of each other to create perfect two dimension. 

MIDTERM SCREENCAST TUTORIAL VIDEO ASSIGNMENT POST:

The purpose of this video is to grow a passion for art in those who were afraid to start learning art. My website, Choi’s Creative Space is for anyone who wants to just learn more about myself and see my portfolio of art works I’ve created and those I will in the future. I’ve also had a hard time finding passion in art, however, once I knew how to start it, it was easy to grow from there. I wanted to give tips and tricks of what I’ve learned and things that helped me to get started in art and how far this passion took me. I expect users to find my video very useful if they are stuck in Procreate. It’s a useful app once you know how to use it but it would be a little confusing in the beginning when you don’t know the usages of the tools in the app. They will find my tutorial video worth watching since it’s something not a lot of people know how to use and might want to learn through quick tips and tricks. It can be a quick learning rather than being stuck in the app for hours after paying $9.99, which was me. As Wolf mentions in the article, “YouTube’s great because you can watch stuff actually being done. I’ve got a couple of home improvement books, but I’ve never even cracked them open because it’s so much easier to just search for what I want electronically” (Wolf, 6). It’s convenient to just click the search bar and type what you want to watch or learn about. Additionally, it’s easier to learn things visually through a video watching someone else doing it before one tries, rather than learning through reading a book or manual. I would love to watch tutorial videos, rather than reading and learning through a book since it’s more convenient and less time consuming.

PSA AUDIO ON AMERICAN RED CROSS:

The purpose of this PSA audio was to grab attention to my podcast about American Red Cross and how it connects back to my website. I briefly go over the history of Red Cross and what kind of organization they are and what they do to help their community all around the world. 

To learn more about them, visit their website: https://www.redcross.org

A difference starts with small gestures. Together, we can help to change a world to a better place.

Sound cloud link: https://soundcloud.com/chloe-choi-200513717/american-red-cross-psa-audio

Discussion:

1. Description of PSA

The content of this audio is to make 30 second of PSA Audio about a non profit organization, American Red Cross. I wanted to share a quick background of what American Red Cross is and what they do, additionally, I wanted to use my PSA Audio to introduce my podcast that is coming soon.

2. How would you describe the fidelity of your recording? How does the fidelity of your voice-over compare with the fidelity of your background music, and how do these levels relate with concepts of loudness as described in Kyle Devine’s article?

I would describe the fidelity of my record to be low fidelity but just as alright. I have background music coming in as an intro, as it fades to lower volume as I start speaking my PSA audio so that the audience can hear my voice as the background music is still playing. After my PSA audio, the music gets louder to close my sound cloud and it fades out as it ends. The fidelity of my voice-over was louder then the fidelity of my background music as I started to talk. These levels relate with concepts of loudness as Kyle Devine states, "... they believe that loud music sounds ‘better’... they recognize that certain forms of musical mediation facilitate certain ways of listening (music as background, as soundtrack to everyday life) and that recordings which have been made consistently louder through dynamic range compression tend to fare better in such situations" (Devine, 164). 

3. How did you control the fidelity and loudness of various components in your file using techniques we have learned in class, and how were your decisions related to your audience’s needs as listeners?

I controlled the fidelity and loudness for my PSA using the "autoduck" to make my speaking part louder than the background music. Additionally, I used "fade out" effect at the end of my PSA audio to make a smoother transition to end the sound cloud.

FINAL THOUGHTS OVER THE SEMESTER!

As the semester is coming to an end, I learned a great amount through Strategic Presentation. I’ve learned how to present myself in a professional way, that would really help me for the future especially since I am looking for summer internships. I also have learned that working with a group is helpful and exciting since I have my peers to talk to. In the beginning of the semester, I was a little worried about making my own website since I’ve never made a website or thought about what my professional website would have. Additionally, hearing all these assignments of making podcasts, short audio, and more made me worry a lot for the semester since I didn’t have any background of doing any of those activities. However, it was really fun to decide on what my website would be about and choosing my own ways to showcase my talent was interesting. I also really enjoyed making tutorial videos of me teaching how to draw on procreate and making podcasts and using different audio applications that I’ve never had experience with. Every time I completed each assignment and put it up on my website, I felt like I was achieving each one of them for my future and growing my experience. The most memorable take away from this course is meeting my group: Group 6! Past two years of my college, I never really enjoyed working with a group since I wanted to get it all done in one sitting, not wait for others to respond or to get back to me. However, my Strategic Presentation group was different. I was really glad that I ended up in this group since we talked a lot in our group chat and really helped one another throughout the semester. I enjoyed getting to know them more closely, not just as a group for the course. I’ve learned that it is important to know how I present myself since it’s important to give a good first impression in a short meaningful way. I’m so glad I took this course with my peers and professor Dorrielan.