Continuing HTML webpage design

The answer is div tags! I practiced putting a picture into my web-page and found that if I inserted a div tag it didn't embed it far below where I needed to position it.

After experiencing some success with web-design, I decided to try my hand at Flash. I found some old tutorials from back when Flash used to be run by Macromedia. Some of the information carried over but I still muddled through the rest. My biggest problem was in making my text appear in a fade-up. I played with the alpha channels and key framed the text, even converted the text to a graphic symbol. Still, when it came time to do a motion tween, it wouldn't work. There's now this thing called "classic tween" which also didn't work for me. I plan to look up what it means. I'm only familiar with shape and motion tweens. I manually added keyframes all through the timeline and adjusted the alpha levels by 5 percent each time. It worked, but it took a really long time.

I would really like to learn how to apply attributes and how to animate them as well. I intend to do some research on this. The knowledge would be helpful with a Google Earth project I am doing in Digital Virtual Environments class. I would also like to be able to design a Flash button/logo for a possible website that I may include in my MRP. I think the Digital Teachers Network would be a good name. Now I just need to research whether or not the name is already being used and whether a domain name is open for it as well.

September 21, 2009

I decided that I should try the web module first, instead of video basics. I’m more interested in learning lighting and shooting in non-typical locations/situations so I will wait for the intermediate video module. I will have to make sure I book out a camera to make sure I review where to locate the filter settings and white balance controls.
I think for my MRP it would be useful to make sure I fill in all the gaps of my knowledge in web design. Last week when I started to think about my documentary idea, I decided I needed a way to help my audience by creating a networking website for teachers. Several of us are using Google Groups, but I would like to learn how to develop a section for bookmarking websites and sharing resources, posting, etc.
Lori Beckstead was fantastic in teaching us the basics of html. She explained everything thoroughly and answered any extra questions we had as we went along. I learned that the word is now being used instead of . I also learned about the use of metatags and why it’s so important to think of key words that search engines will pick up. Because much of my knowledge about web design is self-taught, I had thought CSS style sheets were something Dreamweaver created for its program. Lori showed us how we can design these from scratch.
While playing around with adding media to my site, I had trouble fitting an .flv into the location I wanted to. It kept popping up far below the top column. I tried to add a table to see if it would give me more flexibility but it didn’t. I’ve tried using layers before, but I know layers move around within different browsers. This is something I plan to explore further next week.

Media Production Beginnings

Instructor Dana Lee has asked us to monitor our media tech skills and knowledge we will need to develop for our Major Project in the Media Production Masters program. We need to come up with a list of skills we have, skills we need to learn, and research we need to conduct.

I am starting off the year with an excellent working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 which is not used at Ryerson. I will need to transfer my skills to Final Cut Pro 7. The last time I used FCP was when it was version 2. I will need to research some tutorials to see what has changed. I have a great working knowledge of Adobe Audition, though I am frustrated by the tinny digital sound during some correction. Ryerson uses Pro tools. I will need to develop these new skills. I have just purchased the Adobe Production suite CS4 so that I can learn Adobe After Effects. I also picked up a book with tutorials on the software called After Effects Apprentice. Other than that, I am going to need refreshers on lighting, clean field audio recording, tips for shooting in HD, and the cameras that Ryerson uses. However, I will likely buy my own Sony HD homecamcorder if I can get away with it. I will need to start my filming before the Spring time as I will have to go back and teach at WODSS for a few weeks and the undergrads at Ryerson will have first dibs on school cams during that time.