Flash Presentation

Most of us have been using Power Point Presentation to present our ideas or short description of our project. Well...I guess some of you are getting bored with the fixed and bored animation of the presentation. But do you know that presentation can be made more interesting and interactive using the Flash?

First of all, you need a software to create a flash presentation. There are several types of software available at the market, but the most commonly used is Adobe Flash. However, if you're not expert in using flash application, perhaps you may opt for other software which is more simple.

The much simpler software may only requires us to upload a image, click several buttons and adjust the settings for the flash. Then the software will do all the job for us which took only few minutes. It's all depend on your skills and patience in learning.

I'm sure the viewers of your presentation will not get bored if you used flash application. So take some time to learn the Flash and put in your effort too because sometimes Flash presentation are quite difficult.

Here I attached the simple flash presentation which I created on myself. Please click the link to view the flash presentation:
http://megaswf.com/view/df0e5793d1f422457403b316b18cdf94.html

If you are interested, you may Google around for some tutorial on how to make Flash Presentation. Good luck!

Tutorial regarding Assignment 2 (Photoshop)

I'm using the Adobe Photoshop CS4 to design my blog. So those who are using the previous version still can apply these tutorials as well. Enjoy designing your blog...

~ TASK 1 ~
How to design the blog header:

1) File -> New -> Name it Page 1

2) Set the width to 950 pixels and heights to 170 pixels (The width and height may be different according to your template setting)

3) Choose RGB colour with 8 bit

4) Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color

5) Choose color none

6) Pick the solid color by clicking the area of color wanted

7) Create the second page by repeating steps no. 1-6 with the name Page 2. For step no. 4, the New Fill Layer will be Gradient. You can change the style of the Gradient too

8) Choose the gradient color by clicking the area of colour wanted as step no. 6. Pick different colour so it will be contra with the Page 1

9) Use rectangular marquee tool to select the area that need to marquee. Don't marquee all the page.

• Example of the selected marquee:

10) Select -> Modify -> Feather ( To create soft edges)

11) Set the pixels to 15

12) Use move tool and drag the selected marquee area to overlap with the Page 1. Alternatively, press Shift+Ctrl+C to copy the marquee area and Ctrl+V to paste it on the Page 1

13) Use transform tool to adjust the dragged layer (Ctrl+T). Adjust the layer till it form a frame like below.

14) Use the eyedropper to extract color for the text font

15) Go to Color -> Swatches at the right bar of the window to extract the color. Choose white color

16) Use brush tools to draw some design on the layer. The size and stlye of the brush can be adjusted accordingly at the window above

16) After finished drawing, add some pictures into the layer

17) File -> Open -> Location of the photo -> Click -> Open

18) Use Lasso tool to cut the picture out and paste into the previous layer

19) Select -> Modify -> Feather ( To create soft edges)

20) Set the pixels to 15

21) Use move tool and drag the selected marquee area to overlap with the previous layer. Alternatively, press Shift+Ctrl+C to copy the marquee area and Ctrl+V to paste it on the Page 1

22) Use horizontal text tool to type in some words. You may adjust the font type and size accordingly.

23) To add in effect to the words, use the warped text at window above.

24) Finally, go Layer -> Flatten image

25) File -> Save As -> File name with JPEG extension

How to apply the header into the blog:
1) Go to Dashboard -> Layout -> Page Elements -> Header (Mine is KK01003 - Multimedia System). Click edit at the right under your header

2) Choose the file of the header you have designed and location where it saved. Wait for few minutes for it to finish upload

3) View the blog and repair any flaw such as the header alignment. You can go to Dashboard -> Layout -> Page Element -> Edit HTML to the repair
4) From there, change the pixel of the blog header. Find the code which begin like this:

#header-wrapper { position: relative; width:100%; height:290px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px -21px 0px; background: $headerbgColor;

5) Change the width and height (red highlighted) according to your created header pixels. Click save template and view the blog again for the changes made


How to apply the designed background into the blog:
1) Go to Dashboard -> Layout -> Page Element -> Edit HTML to the change the background
2) From there, change the URL of your blog background. Find the code which begin like this:

body { margin: 0; text-align: center; min-width; 950px; background: $mainbgColor url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurPlqON8Dgro5Qgwy7EBFkPILh4tfudP6ONbZRT61pqKAPIHfbH2MG2gsRBEGTBLsNLaJ8Aw4344msTykWUMY0aaWEfj3GGgGQ1qzL5eT33NOVmNbKUoW0hkB3wxb4B42JyTJY03-ciFX/s512/Background.jpg); background-position: center;

3) Change the URL (red highlighted) of where you have uploaded your designed blog background. Click save template and view the blog again for the changes made


~ TASK 2 ~
How to design the wallpaper:

1) File -> New -> Name it Page 1

2) Set the width to 640 pixels and heights to 240 pixels

3) Choose RGB colour with 8 bit

4) Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Gradient Color

5) Choose color none. Pick the gradient color by clicking the area of color wanted. Choose black color

6) Choose the style of the gradient to become reflected

•    Example of the reflected gradient background:

7) Create the second page by repeating steps no. 1-3 with the name Page 2

8) Use eyedropper to choose the color from swatches.
9) Then use brushes to colored the empty page. You can use your own brush style and color. Pick the different colour so it will be contra with the Page 1

10) Use the eyedropper again to extract color to white from the swatches. Then use brush tools to draw some design on the layer also. The size and style of the brush can be adjusted accordingly at the window above

11) Use rectangular marquee tool to select the area that need to marquee. Don't marquee all the page.

12) Select -> Modify -> Feather ( To create soft edges)

13) Set the pixels to 15

14) Use move tool and drag the selected marquee area to overlap with the Page 1. Alternatively, press Shift+Ctrl+C to copy the marquee area and Ctrl+V to paste it on the Page 1

15) Use transform tool to adjust the dragged layer (Ctrl+T). Adjust the layer till it form a frame like below

16) After finished drawing and merge two layer, add some pictures into the merged layer

17) File -> Open -> Location of the photo -> Click -> Open

18) Use the marquee tool to cut the picture out and paste into the previous merged layer

19) Select -> Modify -> Feather ( To create soft edges)

20) Set the pixels to 15

21) Use move tool and drag the selected marquee area to overlap with the previous merged layer. Alternatively, press Ctrl+C to copy the marquee area and Ctrl+V to paste it on the previous page

22) Set the opacity of the first picture to 35% so that it will be partially invisible

23) Next, use the magic wand to select the the wanted part of the picture, for e.g. the teddy bear. Adjust the opacity to 50% so it will be more visible than previous picture. Use move tool and drag the selected magic wand area to overlap with the previous page. Alternatively, press Ctrl+C to copy the wand area and Ctrl+V to paste it on the previous page

24) Finally, go Layer -> Flatten image

25) File -> Save As -> File name with JPEG extension

Assignment 2 (Photoshop) Collection

BLOG PAGE HEADER - Download

BLOG BACKGROUND - Download

GREETING CARD (Front) - Download

GREETING CARD (Back) - Download

BOOKMARK - Download

WALLPAPER - Download

What is multimedia?

Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun (a medium with multiple content forms) or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which only use traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material. Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms.

Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed or accessed by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live performance. Multimedia also describes electronic media devices used to store and experience multimedia content. Multimedia is distinguished from mixed media in fine art; by including audio, for example, it has a broader scope. The term "rich media" is synonymous for interactive multimedia. Hypermedia can be considered one particular multimedia application.

Multimedia may be broadly divided into linear and non-linear categories. Linear active content progresses without any navigational control for the viewer such as a cinema presentation. Non-linear content offers user interactivity to control progress as used with a computer game or used in self-paced computer based training. Hypermedia is an example of non-linear content. Multimedia presentations can be live or recorded. A recorded presentation may allow interactivity via a navigation system. A live multimedia presentation may allow interactivity via an interaction with the presenter or performer.

Multimedia presentations may be viewed in person on stage, projected, transmitted, or played locally with a media player. A broadcast may be a live or recorded multimedia presentation. Broadcasts and recordings can be either analog or digital electronic media technology. Digital online multimedia may be downloaded or streamed. Streaming multimedia may be live or on-demand. Multimedia games and simulations may be used in a physical environment with special effects, with multiple users in an online network, or locally with an offline computer, game system, or simulator.

Multimedia finds its application in various areas including, but not limited to, advertisements, art, education, entertainment, engineering, medicine, mathematics, business, scientific research and others.

Creative industries
Creative industries use multimedia for a variety of purposes ranging from fine arts, to entertainment, to commercial art, to journalism, to media and software services provided for any of the industries listed below. An individual multimedia designer may cover the spectrum throughout their career. Request for their skills range from technical, to analytical, to creative.

Commercial
Much of the electronic old and new media used by commercial artists is multimedia. Exciting presentations are used to grab and keep attention in advertising. Business to business, and interoffice communications are often developed by creative services firms for advanced multimedia presentations beyond simple slide shows to sell ideas or liven-up training. Commercial multimedia developers may be hired to design for governmental services and nonprofit services applications as well.

Entertainment and fine arts
In addition, multimedia is heavily used in the entertainment industry, especially to develop special effects in movies and animations. Multimedia games are a popular pastime and are software programs available either as CD-ROMs or online. Some video games also use multimedia features. Multimedia applications that allow users to actively participate instead of just sitting by as passive recipients of information are called Interactive Multimedia. In the Arts there are multimedia artists, whose minds are able to blend techniques using different media that in some way incorporates interaction with the viewer. One of the most relevant could be Peter Greenaway who is melding Cinema with Opera and all sorts of digital media. Another approach entails the creation of multimedia that can be displayed in a traditional fine arts arena, such as an art gallery. Although multimedia display material may be volatile, the survivability of the content is as strong as any traditional media. Digital recording material may be just as durable and infinitely reproducible with perfect copies every time.

Education
In Education, multimedia is used to produce computer-based training courses (popularly called CBTs) and reference books like encyclopedia and almanacs. A CBT lets the user go through a series of presentations, text about a particular topic, and associated illustrations in various information formats. Edutainment is an informal term used to describe combining education with entertainment, especially multimedia entertainment.
Learning theory in the past decade has expanded dramatically because of the introduction of multimedia. Thus, the possibilities for learning and instruction are nearly endless.

Engineering
Software engineers may use multimedia in Computer Simulations for anything from entertainment to training such as military or industrial training. Multimedia for software interfaces are often done as a collaboration between creative professionals and software engineers.

Industry
In the Industrial sector, multimedia is used as a way to help present information to shareholders, superiors and coworkers. Multimedia is also helpful for providing employee training, advertising and selling products all over the world via virtually unlimited web-based technologies.

Mathematical and scientific research
In mathematical and scientific research, multimedia is mainly used for modelling and simulation. For example, a scientist can look at a molecular model of a particular substance and manipulate it to arrive at a new substance. Representative research can be found in journals such as the Journal of Multimedia.

Medicine
In Medicine, doctors can get trained by looking at a virtual surgery or they can simulate how the human body is affected by diseases spread by viruses and bacteria and then develop techniques to prevent it.

Document Imaging
Document Imaging is a technique that takes hard copy of an image or document and converts it into a digital format

The future of multimedia

Newspaper were perhaps the first mass communication medium to employ Multimedia. However they used mostly text, graphics, and images. In past, multimedia mostly was in static, black and white, unlikely today's multimedia.

In 1895, Gugliemo Marconi sent his first wireless radio transmission at Pontecchio, Italy. A few years later around 1901, he detected radio waves beamed across the Atlantic. Initially wireless radio was invented for telegraph. Since then radio is now a major medium for audio broadcasting.

Television was the new media for the 20th century. It brings the video and has since changed the world of mass communications. Now, the internet has become the dominance in multimedia as well as the computer based application.

Now, we can see the future of multimedia such in education, entertainment, communications, shopping and retail.

With multimedia, the accessibility of education will increase. The role of teacher will also change besides being an educator. Education will become more commercialize where the learning material will be in softwares. All learning will be facilitated in an online environment and become mediated in some way.

In entertainment, the future of multimedia do applied in online gaming, video streaming as well as media on demand. For communications, technology such as 3G enables video communications, internet browsing and so on which enhances the multimedia.

For shopping and retail, traditional home shopping will be replaced by home shopping through the internet. Retail services will be easily available from home. As a result, shopping experience will be change entirely and people does not need to travel out, thus saving their time.

Multimedia do has its negative influence among the users. For example, those who always playing online game will be addicted and become a couch potato. As a result they are becoming obese and leading an unhealthy life. Some even misuse the multimedia by spreading prone or harsh video to public.

The shortcoming of multimedia, perhaps will be the network bandwidth. This is because multimedia especially video or audio steaming consumes a lot of bandwidth. If all the bandwidth been used up, other important data cannot be transmitted, thus causing network traffic and congestion.

Another shortcoming of multimedia is the speed of processing at the server. Before the multimedia is transmitted , it need to be indexed and retrieval. For example audio or speech processing and recognition, image processing and coding and video segmentation. If too many people request the data at the same time, no doubt the transmission will be delay.

Therefore, it is necessary for us to upgrade and maintain the multimedia to its top so that the next generation can benefit from it.