Digital Art Tools and Forms

Lesson 1: Digital Art Tools

Introduction to Digital Art

  • Digital Art Definition: Refers to artworks that employ digital technology.

  • Electronic Devices: These are devices that use binary code combinations to store and process data.

Tools for Digital Art

  • The Computer: The most commonly used tool in digital art.

    • Any creative outputs using computers are termed computer art or digital art.

  • Types of Tools: Digital artists use two main types of tools:

    • Hardware

    • Software

Hardware

  • Physical Components: These are the tangible tools used in digital art.

    • Typically include the Central Processing Unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

  • Specialized Artist Tools:

    • Graphic Tablet and Stylus: These are modern versions of traditional pen and paper, specifically designed for digital artists.

  • Printers for Digital Art:

    • Inkjet Printers: Commonly used for producing high-quality art prints.

      • Capable of spraying 4 million microscopic drops of ink on canvas per second.

      • These high-quality prints are called "giclee prints", a term derived from the French word meaning "to spray".

Software

  • Computer Programs: These are applications that exist as data in the computer and aid artists in creating art.

  • Popular Software Examples:

    • CorelDRAW

    • Adobe Illustrator

  • Harold Cohen and AARON:

    • Harold Cohen: A significant figure who created a computer program named AARON.

    • AARON: This program was designed to generate random abstract drawings.

    • Significance: AARON represents the pioneering art form that successfully combined artificial intelligence with art.

Cellular Phones (Smartphones)

  • Origin: The first mobile phone was built by Motorola in the early 1970s.

  • Evolution: Mobile phones have evolved significantly to become pocket-sized computers.

    • They now possess advanced capabilities such as internet access, Global Positioning System (GPS), and media players.

    • This technological advancement led to them being coined as SMARTPHONES.

Digital Photography

  • Definition: A type of digital art where digital cameras serve as the primary tool.

  • Historical Precursors:

    • Camera Obscura: The earliest known example of a modern camera, developed in the 1820s.

      • Images were captured through a process involving long exposure times and chemical reactions on photographic plates.

    • Negatives: Introduced in 1884 by the founder of Kodak.

      • This innovation allowed images to be transferred onto films.

      • Disadvantage: Early film rolls had a limited capacity, typically around 36 shots only, which also required chemical processing.

Digital Camera

  • Function: Captures images and saves them as soft copies.

    • These soft copies can be downloaded to a computer for editing or printed.

  • Types of Digital Cameras:

    • Point-and-Shoot Camera: Characterized by its straightforward operation; users simply aim the camera where they want to take a photo and click.

    • Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) Camera: Represents a fusion, combining the intricate processes of traditional analog film cameras with the capabilities of digital photography.

Video Games or Consoles

  • Video Games as Art: Serve as a significant avenue for showcasing digital art, specifically known as video game art.

  • Early Video Games:

    • The earliest examples include a simulated Shooting Game, followed by "Tennis for Two" and "Tic-Tac-Toe".

  • Game Console: A specialized device designed to connect to a television, allowing users to play video games.

  • Arcade Games:

    • These are gaming consoles specifically designed to house and display a single game.

    • Typically enclosed in decorative containers, featuring monitors, speakers, and other components.

Internet Meme

  • Definition: A concept referring to a movement, catchphrase, idea, or media piece that rapidly spreads from one individual to another across the internet.

  • Evolution: A meme commonly originates from a picture and then diversifies into various different memes, often depending on its audience and context.

  • Image Macro:

    • A prevalent type of internet meme.

    • It adheres to a typical template: a top line of text, an image (often famous or viral), and a bottom line of text.

Lesson 2: Digital Art

Digital Art Forms

  • Ubiquity: Digital art is noted as one of the most widespread art forms in human history.

  • Common Examples:

    • Comic books

    • Posters

    • Advertisements

Computer Graphics

  • Computer Generated Imagery (CGI): Images that are created using computers.

  • Extensive Use: Computer graphics are heavily utilized in various entertainment industries.

    • Video Games: Crucial for creating immersive virtual worlds and character designs.

    • Animated Movies: Prominently featured in productions from leading studios such as Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, and Studio Ghibli, among others.

Digital Painting

  • Simulation: Uses a combination of computer hardware and software to create paintings that mimic the appearance and techniques of traditional painting.

  • Primary Tools: Digital paintings are frequently created using graphic tablets and pen styluses.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) Art

  • Historical Context: Originally a term associated with letters and symbols used for computer text before graphical interfaces became common.

  • Artistic Technique: Involves creating images by combining various letters, symbols, and numbers.

  • Kenneth Knowlton's Contribution:

    • Kenneth Knowlton: A notable computer graphic artist.

    • "Studies in Perception I": Created the earliest known example of ASCII art.

    • Artwork Description: This piece depicts a reclining nude figure on a mural, measuring 5" \times 10".

Running Art

  • Type of Artwork: An innovative art form that leverages modern smartphones, sports applications, and GPS capabilities to create images.

  • Joseph Tame: A Tokyo-based performance artist credited with pioneering this art form.

    • Notable Work: Created the iconic Apple company logo as a tribute to its founder, Steve Jobs, following his passing.

Digital Photography (Advanced)

  • Prevalence: One of the most widely used and familiar contemporary technologies for creating art.

  • Manipulation: Digital photographs offer far greater ease of manipulation compared to traditional photographs.

    • Software Tools: Programs like Adobe Photoshop and Corel are commonly used to enhance or distort images, aligning them with the artist's concept.

Game Art Design

  • Inception: The process of game art design always starts with a concept or an initial idea for the game.

  • Elements: Encompasses all the visual and design components of a video game, including:

    • Characters

    • Environmental design

    • Landscapes

    • Overall setting design

  • Virtual Reality (VR):

    • Definition: A computer-generated environment where the user is fully immersed within a digital space.

    • Simulation: This environment can either replicate the real world or present an entirely imaginary one.