Category: Most Popular

Even though animatics are less sought after than the explainer videos and advertising animations we create we love creating animatics as well. Animatics artist Sydney are a whole different animal with their own benefits and challenges. If you’re looking to learn more about them you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

What is an animatic?

The short answer: an animatic is a storyboard animation. Usually, they are used in the pre-production stage for commercials or movies, and they come in many forms. Animatics can be made of rough sketches or ultra-realistic drawings, and they can include simple movements or very smooth and realistic movements that include 3D models.

Why would you want an animatic?

The reasons for using an animatic in your production process differ slightly per medium.
‍
In advertising, animatics are used to test commercials. This way, producers can test different concepts for a commercial to see which one is the most effective or which one gets the right message and emotion across. In this type of animatic, aestetics is usually quite important. Therefore, illustrations are usually quite detailed, including facial expressions and careful use of a color palette to really create a certain look and feel. For a lot of advertising agencies, it’s more cost- and time-effective to do it this way rather than actually getting a film crew to shoot a live-action TV commercial, as these can be very expensive. 
‍
Animatics are also used in pre-production for movies and TV-shows. Often a director will sit down with a storyboard artist to create a storyboard. This can then be shared among departments so that when it’s finally shooting day everyone already knows what the director is trying to achieve and time is used a lot more efficiently. The only thing a still storyboard doesn’t really achieve is the portrayal of movements and timing. By creating an animatic, the story narrative and its effectiveness can be tested.
‍
No matter the medium though, animatics are a great way to show, test and share a concept easily. If you’re looking at a storyboard it requires a few lines of text to explain what will happen in terms of movement and timing and even then, the interpretation of how that looks differs per person. Additionally, in animatics, music and sound effects can be used which further enhance the whole experience and potential to test the success of a concept.

Types and examples of animatics

As I wrote earlier, animatics for testing commercials are usually quite detailed as a big part of its effectiveness relates to the look and feel. Below are two examples of animatics we created for a cleaning brand. They wanted to test out a couple of concepts that could later be turned into TV commercials. This style of animatic can also include illustrations with soft shades or hyperrealistic illustrations. Very different from that again is the example on the right, which includes a lot of 3D work.

In animatics for movies, relatively rough black & white sketches are used. One of the reasons for that is that movies are of course much longer than commercials. Besides that, animatics made of movie storyboards are more about testing the narrative, shotlisting and concept rather than the realism of the illustrations. Especially for scenes that require a lot of CGI and complex movements, animatics can be useful in testing different ways to portray a certain scene.

At our clinic, we have been providing group physiotherapy Pilates classes since 2002. In that time we have seen an undeniable trend. The more we see patients at Pilates, the less we see them for treatment in the physio clinic. You’ll be taught by experienced Pilates instructor course who can mentor you on your education path.

This is because performing Pilates exercises correctly, strengthens the core and stability muscles (such as in the shoulder, hip, lower back). Your core muscles (the deep abdominal muscles such as Transverse Abdominus and Multifidus) enclose your spine, when they are strong it is like wearing a corset which means your spine is supported through movement and while stationary. Having a strong core and alert stability muscles helps to prevent injury and means you can then use the rest of your body more efficiently and gracefully. For example many sports people use Pilates principles to run faster, jump higher and go further.

The difference between tonic and phasic muscles and why it matters to your back and the type of exercises that you perform.

Tonic or postural muscles such as the core muscles are constantly activating to maintain posture and stability and are designed to not fatigue. Core muscles, however, are inhibited by injury and prolonged poor posture. When we sit for long periods with poor posture, some muscles are over shortened while others are over stretched. This is particularly relevant today as many workers are tied to a desk and live relatively sedentary lifestyles.

So the more we sit in these poor postures the more our brain learns to turn the core off, shorten some muscles and lengthen others and our body learns to recruit these same patterns in other activities. This leads to a downward spiral as the core is further inhibited and becomes dysfunctional leading to back pain and increased risk of serious back injury. Have you or someone you know had a back injury from something as minor as picking up a small object like a pencil? This is how such injuries can occur.

Phasic or global muscles are designed to activate on command when we need something done e.g. biceps working to lift hand to mouth. They then turn off when the job is done. Phasic muscles such as the biceps, pectorals and rectus abdominus (the six pack muscle) can all be strengthened and bulked up through a weight lifting strengthening program. In contrast, your core muscles are much more difficult to strengthen as they have a different structure and work differently.

To strengthen the core you need to hold the transversus on (ie tonically) while performing certain slow and controlled movements, like in Pilates. Turning on the core is quite specific, it is not as easy as going to the gym and working on your biceps. For a start you can’t see the core; it can be difficult to know when it is activating or if some of the surrounding outer phasic muscles, such as the rectus abdominus are taking over.

If you are doing gym work or practicing Pilates with incorrect technique you could be reinforcing your bad motor patterns and not helping your core and stability muscles at all. You have no doubt heard the term, practice makes perfect. But if you are simply practicing the wrong technique you just reinforce poor form. Perfect practice is what makes perfect! How do you know if you are really performing your core stabilizing muscle exercises to near perfection when you can’t see them and can hardly feel them? This is where closely supervised training of the core becomes important, firstly to become aware of correct activation and secondly to make it tonic again (retraining the motor pattern).

In our convenience focused world of mod cons, one of the most important things we can do for our health is look to incorporate health focused activities into our daily routine. We have all seen elderly people with hunched over necks and severe back pain. If you are determined not to have this happen to you, then there are things you can do today to prevent it. Here are two simple tips…

• Lumbar support roll – this helps to keep your spine in neutral which is the best position for turning your core on and keeping it on.
• Think tall – sitting AND standing in good posture automatically makes it easier for your core to turn on and stay on. As you “think tall” you should almost feel your waist draw in, which is what happens when your core muscles turn on.

Dianne Hermans is a senior physiotherapist and principal physiotherapist at Lifestyle Therapies wellness clinic in Manly in Brisbane, Australia. She has a particular interest treating chronic and complex pain.

Dianne has worked extensively with the neurologist who originally invented Quadrapolar magnets for the treatment of pain – Dr Robert Holcomb. She is currently enrolled in a Masters program at Griffith University and is conducting a double-blind Randomised Controlled trial using QMagnets. Dianne is Principal Clinical Educator for QMagnets and has trained hundreds of health professionals in the use and application of QMagnets.

For more information on Lifestyle Therapies, see [http://www.lifestyle100.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dianne_Hermans/287387

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2977765

Swimming is a great sport as well as being one of the most popular recreational activities in our world today. Pool removal cost Sydney nothing change over the years except the equipment that they are using are now upgraded. It is especially popular with young children which gives the pool owners a huge responsibility of keeping a safe environment around and inside your pool. If you are thinking about becoming a pool owner, or you already own a pool and want to take every precaution you can to be safe this article will give you guidelines to follow in order to have a safer pool environment.

As a pool owner you need the ability to allow and restrict access to your pool. This is especially important if there is young children present. When the pool is not in use all access points should be either fenced or locked. This can prevent any accidents happening when your not around pool. When you do allow access to your pool never leave a child unattended. There should be no exceptions to this rule. Keep toddlers near you at all times. I realize this point sounds like common sense but people do not always pay attention and an accident is just a minute or two away.

When considering a pool cover make sure you make good decisions on one that is best for your children’s safety.  Pool covers are involved with hundreds of pool accidents every year. Because of the many different types of covers that are out there ask as many questions as you can about how safe each type of cover is. Covers that do not hinder visibility into the pool are safer than covers that do. You should avoid covers that have loose pieces that might be able to choke or strangle. Also, the lighter in weight the cover is, the safer it should be. Never let children play in a pool that a cover is on, and always remove the entire cover off the pool. 

Pool chemicals should be stored in a clean dry place that children cannot access. Locked in a cabinet preferably in a garage or shed where children can’t get to is the best case scenario. Always read directions that accompany the chemicals. Always dilute chemicals by adding them to water. Never add water to the chemicals. Never pour undiluted chemicals into the skimmer deck opening or directly into the pool. Always be sure that all swimmers are out of the pool before you chemically treat the pool water. It is very important to keep your pool water chemicals at safe levels. This will prevent skin and eye irritation and burn.

Keep safety devices on hand. These should include life preservers (enough for all children who have not had any swim training), safety pole that can reach any point in pool, first aid kit (cuts or abrasions). Also, any adult that is going to be responsible for safety should be trained in CPR. This could be the difference between life and death. CPR training information can be found at Red Cross’s website (www.redcross.org).

Teach kids the proper way to use the pool. This would include explaining the dangers of swimming near vents where hair or clothing can get caught. Forbid diving into pool where the water depth is shallow. Take some time and teach the kids that it is wrong to dunk, push, or pull anybody underneath the water surface.  Do not let anybody run on pool deck. Make sure the toys that are being played with are safe. No sharp edges, and nothing that can be a hindrance to a child’s movement in the water.

Insist that swimmers shower after each session in the pool. The bathing suits should be washed as well. This will prevent bacterial buildup or chlorine accumulation.

Post Pool Rules that you think are the most important ones to abide by. Make them easily found and easily read. Check surrounding area around pool for bees nests or any other unfriendly critters. Always have sunscreen on hand to prevent sunburn.

All pool owners assume the responsibility of pool safety for everybody that is going to use that pool. Totalpoolwarehouse urges you to take the time and educate yourself as much as you can. This could help you avoid any accidents or tragedy in the future. As a pool owner you should expect hours of enjoyment from your pool. By making your pool as safe as possible you will ensure you get the most enjoyment you can from it.

This article has been brought to you by Terry Alan your pool professional at [http://www.totalpoolwarehouse.com]. Terry brings over 20 years experience in the swimming pool industry, and would love to answer any of your pool related questions at [email protected]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Terry_Alan/282623

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2032167