Dick Ford Animations

Project Work-flow samples

    This page gives an overview of how animation and illustration projects work using the web as an aid in the design process. Here we present test images of works in progress so that clients can see what is going on and offer suggestions about how to improve or correct images. Often changes can be made and reposted to the web page in a few minutes.

    When we begin a project, we create a new web page with a URL web address which we give only to the people involved in a project. The new page will not be reachable by clicking from any other web site or page, so it will be private except to the most creative of hackers.

    At the beginning of a project we usually work in low resolution images for quicker rendering and downloading times. Later we use higher resolution images to scrutinize for imperfections.

    Depending on the nature of a project, we may be creating original art or illustrations using traditional art techniques, then scanning them into the computer for inclusion in a video or animation project. We may be using 3D computer animation software such as Alias/Wavefront to build computer models for rendering as still images or moving animated sequences. Usually animation sequences are displayed here as a series of small frames which show the key frames, or main positions of a movement.  When necessary we can compress test animation sequences as Quicktime movies on the web. Sequences ready for final approval need to be viewed on videotape which we usually send by Fedex.



Samples

 Here is a sample of an animation sequence for a project involving skin care and wound management.
 



Skin layers - epidermis dermis subcutaneous
 

epidermis
 

langerhans cell
 

keratinocytes
 

melanocytes
 

dermis skin layer
 

skin layers nerve endings
 

skin layer sweat gland
 

skin layer blood vessels
 

skin layer sebacious gland
 

skin layer subcutaneous

Here is a sample of an original drawing created to illustrate parts of the human body which may be vulnerable to pressure ulcers. The style of illustration is derived from classical art.


bed sore pressure ulcer points


 
 

These illustrations are the first and last frames of a short animation showing the pressure, friction, and shear that can cause pressure ulcers in bed-confined patients.

bed sore shear
 

bed sore shear

    Here is an example of broadcast video resolution illustrations for the stages of skin breakdown in pressure ulcers. In all our illustrations and animations we try to communicate concepts which may be difficult to grasp quickly from words alone or even from static illustrations or video. Some concepts in medicine can be awkward, embarrassing or unpleasant for general audiences; we try to create all our illustrations to communicate clearly, and without offense, what the audience needs to know.