Electronic Graphics for Television


Middle Tennessee State University
Department of Electronic Media Communication
Marc J. Barr, Professor
Office Comm 147 - Telephone (615) 898-5118

Course Outline

A. Department: EMC - Number: 3040
Title of Course: Electronic Graphics For Television - Credit: 3

B. Description

This course will serve as an introduction to the development of two dimensional computer generated graphics for Television. The graphics produced are intended for use in the areas of Television News, Sports, Entertainment, Advertising, Corporate Video Production, and for Public Service Announcements. The class will emphasize the aesthetics and techniques for operating systems for Character and Graphics Generation. This course will also serve to develop skills in the successful compositing of these graphics with live action and videotape sequences. The skills learned in this class will serve as a foundation for other classes in the major emphasis areas.

C. Topics Covered

Students will gain an understanding in the application of the following concepts:

1. Development of Graphics for Television and Video
2. Organization of Space for Television and Video
3. Digital Input Devices
4. Red, Green, Blue, and Spectral color models NTSC Color
5. Character Generation and Communicating with Text
6. Visual Communication of Data- Research, Preparation, and Display
7. Integration of Graphics with Text for Television and Video
8. Digital Video Effects
9. Electronic Still Stores
10. Rendering and Display
11. Frame Buffers
12. Digital Tape Editing
13. Storage, Archiving, and Retrieval of files

D. Activities Required of Students

1. Attendance at all lectures and demonstrations
2. Minimum of three hours per week additional laboratory time
3. Equipment operation and daily system administration
4. Tutorial exercises demonstrating competency in the areas of;

* a. Hardware and software operations
* b. Character generation for title sequences and special visual display
* c. Creation of graphs, charts, and other informational graphics
* d. Combining still images with text
* e. Compositing multiple layers of graphics with live video
* f. Animated digital video effects
* g. Creating custom libraries of graphics
* h. Rendering to videotape
* i. Working within a production team environment

E. Evaluation Procedures

1. Individual testing of students on operating procedures, vocabulary, and concepts covered
2. Student journal of activities including evaluation of individual projects from conception to completion
3. Presentation of videotape containing completed projects
4. Individual and group critiques

F. Text

Texts and manuals will be supplied by the department.