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Building an Art Packet
Color Keys
We use visual reference to
create new ideas, inspire direction and inform us about reality or a
particular stylized look. Visual reference is an important
discovery process in film making because it allows us to better explore
and shape our ideas. It's not cheating, it's a communication
tool. Visual reference affords us an opportunity to see what is
out there and it assists us in creating new ideas from studying things
that we may not have payed particular attention to in the past.
When thinking about your short, go out and look around, do research,
discover and assemble you ideas into useful reference that will help
inform your team about your project. Gather reference that will inspire ideas for your story,
character design, camera work (use of depth of field), animation,
environments, color pallets, materials, visual effects and light.
Look at films, photographs, books, the Internet or photograph or sketch
your ideas. Collect your visual reference and pin it up so you
can see it while you are working. Let it inspire you and organize
your ideas so your short is cohesive and well thought out.
