Pixar In A Box:What I have Learned.

Good Evening, Design Friends,

I had to work more than usual this week, so I am a bit late with this entry. I wanted to share what I learned after watching some very interesting and educational videos from Pixar in a Box, found at https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar.

These videos were very helpful, and I really enjoyed the interactive sections that reinforced my understanding of the material.

Here are 10 key takeaways I wanted to share.

1. When it comes to storytelling, it’s best to write what you know. As cliché as it may sound, doing so allows you to connect with the audience by adding personal experiences. This makes a story more relatable and emotionally engaging, ultimately making it more enjoyable.

2. Tell a story multiple times. It's rarely perfect the first time, and often takes several retellings before it really comes to life.

3. When creating a story; sometimes the environment or world your character lives in comes first, while at other times the character takes precedence. A story is born when the two meet.

4. The term "color" describes a collection of attributes, while hue, saturation, and value specifically explain how we perceive things. Hue refers to the actual color we see in the rainbow. Value indicates how bright something is in relation to something else. Saturation describes how intense a color appears.

5. Light is made up of different wavelengths of energy. When this energy enters our pupils and reaches our retinas, it triggers nerve impulses that are processed by our brain.

6. Wide angle shots (where the camera is closer) make subjects appear larger and create a sense of distance for more remote objects. Long lens shots (when the camera is farther away) make the space between distant objects feel less pronounced in relation to those that are closer.

7. Adding a camera lens can allow you to bend light, causing the light rays to converge, which is known as the focal point. The shape or curvature of the lens determines how sharply the light rays are bent; when the lens curvature is decreased, the focus shifts farther away.

8. Camera movement is crucial in effectively telling a story.

9. In nature, most patterns exhibit elements of irregularity and randomness, which should be considered when creating patterns to achieve an organic and realistic appearance, such as in plants or animals. Introducing controlled randomness is key to this effect.

10. Voronoi diagrams help with pattern structure, and random variation is used to make textures feel organic and realistic. Shading packs are a toolkit utilized by the art department, including reference images, color specifications, texture ideas, and notes on scale, placement, size, and shape.