B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Media Technologies Module Review

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Character Representation & Font Technology

Key Concepts Character Sets Standards (ASCII) Unicode and ISO Fonts Accessing Fonts Classification and Choice Terminology Font Technology

Text – Nature and Aesthetic Visual representation of a language Graphical symbols with visual aesthetics Characteristics Shape Spacing Structure Layout

Abstract Characters Grouped into alphabets Alphabets describe written form of a given language Upper and lower case require different symbols A, B, C, …Z, and a, b, c, …z Punctuation marks :;,. ! Numerals and operator symbols 0, 1, 2, 3… + - x ^ =

Font Technology Each stored character value mapped to a visual display called a glyph. Glyphs arranged in collections called fonts Concept of fonts as collection of glyphs visually related and design to work together dates back to pre-digital era. Some font designs originate from fifteenth century.

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies An Introduction to Computer Graphics

Key Concepts Image Acquisition Vector Graphics Bitmapped Graphics Layers File Formats Optimisation and Deployment Software

Image Acquisition Scanner Digital Camera Computer Artwork Digital Capture or Transfer Library Material

Vector Graphics Mathematically prescribed Wont loose resolution when scaled Give very lightweight file sizes Limited picture information for photorealism File Formats.wmf,.swf, cgm Software Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand

Bitmapped Graphics Allow for high-definition photorealistic images. Image encoded on a pixel by pixel basis. Image resolution degraded when scaled Supports lossless compressions algorithms File Formats -.BMP,.GIF,.JPG,.TIF.TGA Software Adobe Photoshop ( with ImageReady) Macromedia Fireworks PaintShop Pro (Shareware)

Optimisation & Deployment Control over compression (.JPEG) Palette depth (.GIF) Balance of picture quality versus file size For web deployment use ‘Export for web’ Never deploy the construction (layered) file! Deploy for non-BroadBand audiences (for now)

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Database Technologies

Key Concepts Database Definitions & Standards Architectures Server-Side Scripting Perl ASP JSP PHP Servlet XML

Layered Architecture local computer client browser Internet remote webserver

N-Tier Architecture database server

Server-Side Scripting Advantages No special client side software required Robust security model via encryption (https) Typical Activities Design and Author scripts For particular requirements To sell or provide for wider community Use existing scripts Script will need to be configured (setup) for individual use Access to cgi-bin required on host server

Server-Side Scripting - PERL Perl = Practical Extraction & Reporting Language Perl has powerful text-manipulation functions Used to process World Wide Web electronic forms Provides a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for access to systems, databases, and users Freely available for several platforms, Windows, MAC, Unix, etc.

Server-Side Scripting - PERL Perl = Practical Extraction & Reporting Language Perl has powerful text-manipulation functions Used to process World Wide Web electronic forms Provides a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for access to systems, databases, and users Freely available for several platforms, Windows, MAC, Unix, etc.

XML XML is a markup language much like HTML XML was designed to describe data XML tags are not predefined. You must define your own tags XML uses a Document Type Definition (DTD) or a Schema to describe the data XML with a DTD or XML Schema is designed to be self descriptive

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies 3D Technologies for the Web

Key Concepts Motivations for providing 3D web content Technologies VRML Shockwave 3D 3DML Development Tools and Processes Deployment Issues

Motivations for 3D Content Virtual Tours ( Environments, Architectural walk-thru ) Product design presentation and interaction Scientific applications - molecular structures, navigation of ‘spaces’ Abstract representations of real-world concepts, e.g navigating file structures or data warehouses via real- time 3D metaphors. Online gaming

Technologies VRML Shockwave 3D 3DML

Deployment Issues Client-side software required to view & navigate worlds Bandwidth! - broadband take-up and capacity will determine the future potential for 3D on the Web.

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Graphics Device Principles B.Sc. (Hons) Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

Key Concepts Basic CRT Principles Vector Graphics Raster Graphics Display Architecture

Vector Displays

Raster Scan

Random v Raster

Aliasing Bitmap images will exhibit aliasing to the underlying method of their storage and display. Algorithms applied to final image to smooth jagged edges and give more gradation between edge colours

SVG still in Development Development by WC3 - SVG Web Consortium Working Group Group membership made up of interested parties from computer graphics community et al. Representatives from companies including: Adobe Systems Microsoft Corporation Macromedia Sun Microsystems Autodesk Corel Nokia

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Bitmap Image Editing

Key Concepts Bitmapped Graphics Transformations Effects Anti-Aliasing

Bitmap Structure Logical PixelsDevice Pixels

Image Transformations Scaling Rotations Translations Reflections (flip) Skewing Freeform

Compositing Images

B.Sc. Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies Colour Theory and Application

Key Concepts Describing Colour Colour Models and Synthesis Colour Palettes Colours for the Web

Describing Colour Words we might use when naming and describing colours: ‘shade, hue, warm, tone, bright, dim, pale, intense, vivid, rich, saturated, cold, strong, wishy-washy, glowing, colour, flat, weak, muddy, soft, vibrant, luminance, bold, tint’ Very subjective - influenced by perception and characteristics of illuminating light source.

HSV 3D Representation

HSV 2D Representation

The Colour Wheel (Maya)

Colour Models: RGB & CMYK

B.Sc. (Hons) Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

B.Sc. (Hons) Multimedia ComputingMedia Technologies

Munsell System

Flash ActionScript Supports the Object Oriented paradigm Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism Syntax and structures similar to Java Provides a sophisticated script-based application program interface for movie control and interaction, sprite motion, drag and drop, database connectivity.