Art is work. My art andachieve the result that I had imaged. Art was always going to be my primary source of income, how I was going to achieve this I didn’t know.
Through out this essay I will be  creativity has always been my most powerful tool but I couldn’t represent or focusing on how to achieve the best productivity and how to management you time to the most effective way possible. There are two major primary stages that need to be utilized to achieve production quality work and if the structure and stages of this essay are followed working methodologies will improve dramatically.

Developing an idea is the first step in any creative problem solving. An idea is generally started from a trying to achieve a desired goal. The source of the inspiration can come from anywhere, look at all possible sources of good ideas: your customers, your competition, your peers, the literature, patents, lecturers and your own subconscious while creativity is great some breakthroughs in creativity comes from outside.
Creativity is “seeing what everyone else has seen, thinking what no one else has thought, and doing what no one else has dared”
There are many techniques which encourage creative thinking:
• Keeping a journal or scrapbook: A collection of drawings and snippets of conversation while on its own may not mean much , but sometimes some innocuous action can trigger an idea and that journal becomes the new Piccaso’s pallet
“Seemingly independent visual or mental images that are considered concurrently may inspire unique ideas. According to his own story, Newton conceived the concept of universal gravitation when he observed an apple falling and at the same time noticed the moon in the sky. These simultaneous images inspired him to speculate if the same laws governed the falling apple and the moon orbiting the earth. This in turn led him to develop the laws of mechanics and established mathematical analysis and modeling as the principal foundations of science and engineering.”

• Life observations. As mundane as life maybe sometimes the most common aspects of life can trigger great ideas and feed an artists creativity. Embrace everything in the surrounding environment, there is always something happening and it is up to the individual to keep there eyes open. For example the way an elderly woman walks or the interaction between two people.

Appreciation of the arts. Feeding off someone else’s creativity helps stimulate ones imagination. A painting may inspire a great idea or just help in developing your own work. The inspiration is endless so research through any relevant work. Everything around us has potential to stimulate the creativity within converting the idea into reality is the next step.

• Observing Nature: nature is an amazing thing, there are infinite things happening all around us. By keeping a clear head with keen eyes nature will endeavor to expose itself to the world. For example the way a tree moves, a cat crossing the road, an annoying fly ect. “Philo Farnsworth had the inspiration which led to television while sitting on a hillside in Idaho. The neat rows in a nearby farm gave him the idea of creating picture on a cathode ray tube out of rows of light and dark dots. He was 14 at the time, the next year he presented the concept at a high-school science project, and demonstrated the first working model of a television set when he was 21.”
The next stage in good working practices is the mind map. Through the use of your journal or scrapbook of your personal inspirations and ideas the individual will need to elaborate on them to achieve there desired out come.
Mind maps are used for creative problem solving through the development of ideas, in almost any work related problem creating a mind map will bring the solution. In all industries the first plan of attack should be the mind map which maps out the different paths that are possible to take. Mind mapping (or concept mapping) involves writing down a central idea or result you want to get to and thinking up any new and related ideas which radiate out from the centre. Having the one key word, and then looking for words that branche out and have connections between them, you are mapping knowledge in a manner which will help you understand and remember new information.
The mind map has been proven to be benafitial for the student they even use them in the industry today. Mind maps are able to work for the individual as well as a team, if there is a team colaborating and all the individual members have kept a jernal of ideas it makes it easier for the the group to spring ideas to life.
Mind maps are an expression of radiant thinking which is the most natural function of the human brain. Mind maps are like a key in unlocking the potential information stored in the brain. Using radiant thinking will enhance human performance by improved learning and access knowledge and through clear thinking.
Mindmanager is a great piece of software for people that are more inclined to use there computer rather then pen and papper. This will help in oganisation of thoughts rather then a untidy jumble of information.

Mindjet.com/us/

The advantages of this program are:
• Simple lay out .
• Clean structure in design.
• Friendly to the user.

Disadvantages of the program:
• Not as quick as pen and papper.
• Wont help in presenting any work.

Decision making after the creation of a mind map is also vital because the wrong discussion and be curtail to the out come. In most cases even before the mind map is completed each individual has made up there mind whether or not they like the idea and subconsciously graded the information to what suites them best. If this hasn’t happened the next step is to use Dyadic (the Latin word for two, yes/no better/worse) decision making, the best way to do so is by weighing up the odds, this means putting a percentage next to the individual ideas and calculating the results to find the best. If still there are equally effective ideas and the decision isn’t clear it is better to leave it and relax under minimal pressure to create clear thinking and realization of an element within an idea will become obverse.

There are many uses for a mind map not just as a starting point in any work related issue it can also be used for organization skills.
The mind map diary or universal personal organizer, which is a different way to approach self / time management. It is a forward leap from standard linear note taking. The more personal you make the more effective it will became, for instance you should use as many colours, humor symbols and as many visual aids as possible because this makes it easier for the brain to compute. And with a yearly plan the brain can get an over view of the hole year. It makes every thing easier to comprehend what the major tasks are in the year. The planner doesn’t have to only be limited to a yearly planner in can be daily or monthly planner.

This brings us to the next stage, all the ideas and inspiration has now been developed on to make the desired result. Now taking all that information and processing it into an organized working structure is the key to good working practice.

Planning and execution:
Bringing the fusion of ideas and creativity into and organized solution is the key to a financially successful project. Proper management of the resources and time will produce the most effective work:

Resource Management: to enable the most efficient and effective deployment of any work knowlodge of your organization’s or facultys resources must be carefully considered sacrofices might need to be made depending on the finacial budget of the project and working enviroment. Research of the correct software that is needed and what is available to use will automatically determain what you will need to do or organise with an out side soure to obtain the desired objective. For example if there is a section of work that requires 3D elements and the software isnt available, the skill or help from some where els willl need to sort after.

Creativity and ideas may be the mode by which we achieve a successful outcome but determining the method of how it will be achieved are the foundations to a viable project. It is as critical in future success or any commercial business. Once the resources have been sourced it is the utmost importance that the management of the time available is put into a smart time efficient resource, precise implementation of your time will create a successful project.
Time is money and all the best projects, concepts and ideas in the world have been defeated by the mismanagement of time both in the implementation and development of concepts. From our very beginning on this earth we are directed in our endeavors by time. ”time to get up” Time to play” Time to work” Time to complete this assignment” We have a myriad of items that ensure we control our time effectively, the clock , wristwatch , time checks, the list goes on , our entire life from :the time to get up “ to “ the time to go to bed is managed. But, do we do it productively?
When producing a product for a client cost is a major consideration because the workers time costs money, the more money the more time. This with the due date will determine how we are going to manage and structure our time in bring the project to fruition. Overtime and longer hours might need to de incorporated to ensure a successful project.
There are a number of ways we can visualize objective or monochromic “time” in one dimension ,measured in specific units , minutes ,seconds and hours and easy to determine and really not difficult to quantify. For example the time I would take to print a unit of work. Then there is subjective time, this is difficult to quantify as it varies from one individual to the next, people that use the right hemisphere of brain(artistic people) are the individuals that would generally need to work in subjective time, how long does it take to develop a concept , what if I change the idea , or have to redraw something? Issues harder to calculate in hours and minutes. Practice and experience is the only true way to determine how long each task should take. Here praxis is the determining factor, that is using experience and established means to determine estimated time lines.
The correct demonstration of these two concepts of time will conclude how long each task will take and there for equate to the most effect and precise structure of your time. The obvious solution is time manage somewhere between the two, in order to achieve this I need to quantify the proposed subjective time through my experience and determine the objective time to be used on the project.
The next stage is to produce a time line. This task now should be a breeze provided that I have calculated every thing exactly. The time line is the going to determine whether or not it is even possible to produce the required out come. There are two way to produce the time line, taking a pen to paper or an interactive program. By actually getting hands on and designing it your self will be quicker, easier and more personal but the negative side is that it is just as easy to loose focus. Focus and determination of the task is all up to the individual, getting side tracked and not keeping to the schedule is going to delay time and could even granite a failure in the project. That’s why it would be viable to use software. Determining a project timeline is best achieved utilizing modern software. There are a number of different packages available each with unique but specific atribributes.
Using a time management tool will keep your concentration on the task and hopefully not let the individual loose sight of there desired objectives and goals.

Kontinnuum:
Is a user friendly packages which is based or designed for graphic design work, it has a :” what you do is you see” facility which allows the designed to not try and second guess what the computer is doing in the background.
“rapidly deploy web based workflow solutions. This allows you to automate and manage your business processes, improve your teams productivity, enforce company best practice, gain greater visibility and above all reduce expenses. Web and Flo can provide you with a cost effective workflow solution no matter what the size the project.”
http://www.webandflo.com/features.html With Kontinuum you have the ability
Creating a timeline and managing a project with this software will reduce the ultimate cost by better using manpower, resources and utilizing time effectively.

TimeLog Project 4.2
This program offers similar functions as Kontinnuum however this program is better utilized in the IT industry and science based industry. Yet this software isn’t as professional as many other programs.
http://www.timelog.com/home/home_timetracking.asp?gclid=CPzlkoq8pIgCFQEmTAodJnA1RQ

Screen Notes:
Is another great tool in time management it provides the user will many functions that keep you on track and focused on your work. It keeps the user aware of the tasks needed to be done with screen notes on the monitor as a reminder.
Romexoft.com/screennotes

Through my studies in MPI 305 I have found while creativity of ideas and concepts are highly important to any work related issue that the foundations of good working practice will determine the success of the end product. Working methodology is used to turn a creative thought into success. Combining creativity with time management and a professional structure will ultimately bring the solution.
These are the steps to take for the best work method:
Creative thinking and coming up with ideas and inspiration
Developing ideas and solutions
Determining the concept.
Resource requirements and availability:
Planning and Implementation, profitability.
Production :

Reference List:

John F. Sowa Semantic Networks http://www.jfsowa.com/pubs/semnet.htm 06/03/2006
F.S. Bellezza “The Spatial Arrangement Mnemonic”. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied (1999).
Kerry Shephard Presenting At Conferences, Seminars And Meetings
By Sage Publications Inc Feb 28, 2005
wikipedia.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animatic
JCU. http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/mindmap/howto.html

Tony Buzan .The mind map book.. BBCbooks 1990

Jan Roderts Breslin, Making Media, focal press, 2003

Robert J Sternberg, Thinking and problem solving, Academic Press, 1994

Stephen Mcgloughlin, Multimedia concepts and practice, Prentice Hall, 2001

Pat Matson Knapp. Designers in handcuffs . F&W Publications. 2003

Atomic Learning, 2006. Resources for the class room, electronic version, Atomic                    Learning, USA.            http://www.atomiclearning.com/storyboardpro   

Mind maps are used for creative problem solving, in almost any work related problem creating a mind map will bring the solution.
I know what your thinking any one can make one, mind maps are easy and for kids, when in actual fact it’s the exact opposite.
To fully understand the best ways to control time management and why mind maps are important we need to understand how our brain works and we need to formulate a structure best in processing knowledge.
Mind maps are for those people that use the right hemisphere of the brain. There are two sides of the brain left and right hemisphere. As individuals we are all different in which side we use in processing information the left side is mainly used by those people that find it easier to process information using words, logic, numbers, sequence, analysis and lists. The right hemisphere is used by those people that best process information with colour, images and visualization, these types of people find themselves daydreaming and have higher levels of imagination. The people in this room I hope use this side of the brain, because in the industry you are getting your self’s into it is extremely important. For these people the mind map is most beneficial, because you can use visuals to help learn or achieve the desired out come. In the all industries the first plan of attack should be the mind map which maps out the different paths to take. Mind mapping (or concept mapping) involves writing down a central idea or result you want to get to and thinking up any new and related ideas which radiate out from the centre. Having the one key word, and then looking for words that branch out and have connections between them, you are mapping knowledge in a manner which will help you understand and remember new information.
For me my focus word was finished animation and all the points coming off it were to establish how I could get there, from those points there can be other points coming of from them and so on and so on.
Once a mind map is created then it is off to making the time line based on the information that was displayed in the mind map but that’s a totally different subject. I would rather talk about how doing a mind map will help the individual and isn’t a waste of time. A lot of students just jump in the deep end not really knowing what is install for there work they might get lucky and stumble upon the right path as they are doing there work but in so many cases the mind map has been proven to be beneficial for the student they even use them in industry they use mind maps to spring ideas to life.
While studying or working through information it is difficult to stay focused that’s why I use mind maps to process information and analyze knowledge. I’m sure if I keep talking with out showing you any visual aids you will be finding it had to keep concentration. I interviewed a school teacher at central coast grammar school who teaches physical education. He tells me that he encourages the kids to use mind mapping to help them remember the syllabus. “There are too many topics with subcategories for the students to remember that’s why I teach them how to use mind maps” in this subject the task of remembering all the different topics and can be over bearing. Having pages upon pages of study note makes things a mess and is just frustrating to study, that’s why creating a mind map can help immensely with studying. Having one focal word in the middle in a bubble and then having titles of the other miner topics that summarizes what is in that topic, the main idea of a topic. Doing this will help in generating information from the topic from the words and visuals. This process forms structure and organization, this also helps in problem solving and classifying the main ideas. There are many other graphs that are similar to use and have effective results, although they have less graphic images compared to the mind maps. One of these is semantic network or net, it is which is often used as a form of knowledge representation. An expression of the human knowledge this is displayed as a directed graph showing vertical’s that represent the concepts and the edges which represent semantic relations between the concepts. These graphs explore the steps in which the process should follow as well as exploring the human mind. This style of graph was first through AI (artificial intelligence) earlier versions have long been used in philosophy, psychology, and linguistics. This process of organizing data is still very popular in program operating. Maya, mirage, and many other involved software have its own lingo behind the senses.
Lets talk about the human brain some more to find out more about what will help in our creative problem solving.
Here are the most important and most frequently asked questions about our brain.
How do we process information?
How do we learn and what do we recall most easily?
Is the human brain a pattern making and pattern seeking device?
Out of all the millions of questions asked these are the few that will help in structuring an assignment or any work. The brain is highly complex with one million, million brain cells or (neuron) and each neuron consist of vast electrochemical complex and a powerful micro- data- processing and transmitting system. Funny enough it looks similar to the way a mind map works, it is shaped like an octopus with arms flowing off like a tree branch. The brain cell pass on information like a chain but for a thought or extracting information from the brain, the biochemical or electro magnetic resists along a pathway, the first time the thought accurse a lot of information is lost. The more frequently and more connecting patterns that the brain finds and uses will allow the path to become easier and smoother so the thought will not be lost. Pg32
This is why creating the mind map will help our thought process through connecting patterns. A mind map could be used through out the animation process. I will go into the whole process at the end for your benefit.
So our brain in fact processes information through patterns and completion, for example if I where to say (abcd….) what would you think of? The brain would automatically think of e, because we seek for patterns. Or you know what I heard the most insane, incredible thing on my why in here today… oh dear I’m not aloud to tell you. Now your brain is egger to know the rest for completion. This in built program in the brain is totally satisfied through the structure of the mind map. Mind maps have infinitive sequence of associative probes, which comprehensively investigates any idea or question that you may need the answer too.
Mind maps are an expression of radiant thinking which is the most natural function of the human brain. Mind maps are like a key in unlocking the potential information stored in the brain. Using radiant thinking will enhance human performance by improved learning and access knowledge and through clear thinking.
There are many uses for a mind map not just as a starting point in any work related issue it can also be used for organization skills.
The mind map diary or universal personal organizer, which is a different way to approach self / time management. It is a forward leap from standard linear note taking. The more personal you make the more effective it will became, for instance you should use as many colours, humor symbols and as many visual aids as possible because this makes it easier for the brain to compute. And with a yearly plan the brain can get an over view of the hole year. It makes every thing easier to comprehend what the major tasks are in the year. The planner doesn’t have to only be limited to a yearly planner in can be daily or monthly planner.
I will list a few reasons why this tool will help in your management skills.
*1 it provides a macroscopic and a microscopic view of the tasks ahead.
*2 it allows you to span future and past into recorded planner.
*3 it is visually appealing and become even better as you put more work into it, this stimulates and excites the brain.
*4 it allows you to put all events into context.
*5 this type of diary lets you priorities the event through the use of colour and images.
There are many other reasons why it is a better solution for time management but ill leave it up to you to figure out for your self.
Now I want to talk about prioritizing your time, not through what people have done and they think is good but the facts and what is the most effect way so that your brain can work to the optimal level of performance.
Concentration: is the key to a good study/ working session. You know what will distract you so don’t turn the T.V. on or play loud music. I bet your getting distracted right now while your listening to me, stop it. Figure out a way to keep your eyes on the prize, this I exactly why mind maps are important (visuals.) Also don’t over do it, 1.75 hours of study or work is enough and then our brain has a dramatic loss in processing information and we get distracted. So take a brake before this happens, every one is different so figure out what is best for you. The time of the brake depends on you so relax your brain, for an hour if necessary then you can get back into it. Set a clock that ticks, down load sceennotes what eve you takes just stay focused for a certain time period and the every thing will piece together.

Location: First every one is different some people prefer to work in the working and studying environment e.g. the library or computer labs while others prefer to work in the comfit of there own home. It’s best to be hung up on the location that you work all the time so that it lessons your excuses to get out of study. And you must understand that there are certain times available to work in certain areas. Reference: Dr. Phil Race Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Part One (University of Manchester), p.18.
Exercise and health: I know what you’re thinking, its good for me or what ever. But seriously here’s a fact the more you exercise the bigger your brain grows. As your exercising the blood flow around your body increases and pumps more blood to your brain and the more blood cells developed the more neutrons can be made, and if there is new blood cells formed it means there is more oxygen in the blood stream. The oxygen acts as a carrier which gets rid of all the dead cells making a smoother flow of the brain. So 30 minutes 3-4 times a week is easily enough. I don’t want to get into how important a healthy diet is you already know what you don’t know is that the brain is around 60 percent fat so you should eat omega 3 fatty acids to keep it oiled. And a tip fish is real brain food.
Building the brain: If you really want to use the brain power to its full potential and apply it to your work. The brain is just like any mussel, in that it will be able to store more knowledge and process information quicker. By just practicing focusing on a task for a certain designated amount of time you will find the more often you practice this the longer you will be able to concentrate on a task. Get into habits of finding patterns or repetition of the task will help in remembering how to over come a task. E.g. by doing a tutorial twice straight away can save you time in the long run because you want need to go through the process of finding the tutorial again. The hardest task to do is finding away for you to get motivated into a task, personal motivation works in different ways for the individual, some people give them selves a reward if the task is completed. It is your life you don’t have to listen to any advice I say but for me my concentration has increased and I motivated to work a few hours every day. Take advantage of your brain people, you have one so use it to the best of your ability. The better you look after it the better it will look after you.

Radiant thinking is a natural part of every single person’s brain and if you use it you will create a solution to any problem you are facing. Don’t just use this in organizing your working solutions. Also use the time line it puts all your results into a structured form. Even a electronic diary will help in keeping you in line and on the task so you don’t fall behind.

MPI306  A mind map is designed to help the individual express there ideas, more so if visuals help.In my case I need to use diagrams and pictures to keep me focused on a task. This is why students often drift of in to a dream like state no taking in all the information that is being presented to them. Im sure if you are reading this it might become tedious because there isnt and pictures this is why mind maps are important to the individual. I interviewed a school teacher (physical education) from the central coast grammar school to find more about mind maps. He tells me that he encourages the kids to use mind mapping to help them remember the syllabus. “There are to many topics with subcategories for the students to remember that’s why I teach them how to use mind maps” in this subject the task of remembering all the different topics and can be over bearing. Having pages upon pages of study note makes things a mess and is just frustrating to study, that’s why creating a mind map can help immensely with studying. Having one focal word in the middle in a bubble and then having titles of the other miner topics that summarises what is in that topic, the main idea of a topic.Doing this will help in generating information from the topic from the words and visuals.This process forms structure and organization, this also helps in problem solving and classifying the main ideas.    There are many other graphs that are similar to use and have effective results, although they have less graphic images compared to the mind maps.  One of these is semantic network or net, it is which is often used as a form of knowledge representation. An expression of the human knowledge this is displayed as a directed graph showing vertices’s that represent the concepts and the edges which represent semantic relations between the concepts. These graphs explore the steps in which the process should follow as well as exploring the human mind. This style of graph was first through AI (artificial intelligence) earlier versions have long been used in philosophy, psychology, and linguistics. This process of organizing data is still very popular in program operating. Maya, mirage, and many other involved software have its own lingo behind the senses. Ill dive more into it in the next post. F.S. Bellezza (1999). “The Spatial Arrangement Mnemonic”. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 5(1): 54-75. THIS REFERENCE IS INCORRECT!R. M. Kitchin (1994). “Cognitive Maps: What Are They and Why Study Them?”. Journal of Environmental Psychology 14: 1-19.R. G. Downs and D. Stea (1973). Image and Environment: Cognitive Mapping and Spatial Behavior.E. C. Tolman (1948). “Cognitive Maps in Rats and Man”. Psychological Review 55: 189-208.  John F. Sowa Semantic Networks http://www.jfsowa.com/pubs/semnet.htm 06/03/2006

i am going to focus on mind maps and demonstrate how they can help the individual,

a lot of students just jump in the deep end not really knowing what is install for there work they might get lucky and stumbble upon the right path as they are doing there work but in so many cases it has proven to be benafitial for the student or even in industry they use mind maps to spring ideas to life.

jcu study skills on line has many different ways to improve your working process through the help of mind maps.

There are many different types of people in the world and a large porssion of them are visual learners, if you are in graphic design and multi media you are definatly a visual learner. this means that mind mapping will work for you because it stimulates creative thinking, it enhances recall and makes decission making easier. 

Mindmanager is a great piece of software for presenting mind maps to a client or any one that want to see your creatine thinking. there has been plenty of research on the benifits of mind maps but very minimal on how effective mind maps are in presenting, so its safer to use them for creative thinking but not the best idea to use it as a tool in prentation.

Presenting At Conferences, Seminars And Meetings
By Kerry Shephard Sage Publications Inc Feb 28, 2005 pg52

An animatic, also called a story reel, is a filmed version of a storyboard, created to test dramatic timing. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animatic

Animatics

In animation and special effects work, the storyboarding stage may be followed by simplified mock-ups called “animatics” to give a better idea of how the scene will look with motion. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.

This allows the animators and directors to work out any screenplay and timing issues that may exist with the current storyboard. The storyboard and soundtrack are amended if necessary, and a new animatic may be created and reviewed with the director until the storyboard is perfected. Editing the film at the animatic stage prevents the animation of scenes that would be edited out of the film; as animation is a very expensive process, there can be very few “deleted scenes” if the film is to be completed under budget.

Often storyboards are animated with simple zooms and pans to simulate camera movement (using software such as Final Cut Pro). These animations can be combined with available animatics, sound effects and dialog to create a presentation of how a film could be shot and cut together. Examples of these exist on the DVD special features for several feature films.

durring this stage i am choping and changing alot to figure out where i want this animation to be, the story board can look good in theory but it only really comes together during the animatic.

An animatic, also called a story reel, is a filmed version of a storyboard, created to test dramatic timing. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animatic

In animation and special effects work, the storyboarding stage may be followed by simplified mock-ups called “animatics” to give a better idea of how the scene will look with motion. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.

This allows the animators and directors to work out any screenplay and timing issues that may exist with the current storyboard. The storyboard and soundtrack are amended if necessary, and a new animatic may be created and reviewed with the director until the storyboard is perfected. Editing the film at the animatic stage prevents the animation of scenes that would be edited out of the film; as animation is a very expensive process, there can be very few “deleted scenes” if the film is to be completed under budget.

Often storyboards are animated with simple zooms and pans to simulate camera movement (using software such as Final Cut Pro). These animations can be combined with available animatics, sound effects and dialog to create a presentation of how a film could be shot and cut together. Examples of these exist on the DVD special features for several feature films.

durring this stage i am choping and changing alot to figure out where i want this animation to be, the story board can look good in theory but it only really comes together during the animatic.

An animatic, also called a story reel, is a filmed version of a storyboard, created to test dramatic timing. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animatic

In animation and special effects work, the storyboarding stage may be followed by simplified mock-ups called “animatics” to give a better idea of how the scene will look with motion. At its simplest, an animatic is a series of still images edited together and displayed in sequence. More commonly, a rough dialogue or sound track is added to the sequence of still images (usually taken from a storyboard) to test whether the sound and images are working well together.

This allows the animators and directors to work out any screenplay and timing issues that may exist with the current storyboard. The storyboard and soundtrack are amended if necessary, and a new animatic may be created and reviewed with the director until the storyboard is perfected. Editing the film at the animatic stage prevents the animation of scenes that would be edited out of the film; as animation is a very expensive process, there can be very few “deleted scenes” if the film is to be completed under budget.

Often storyboards are animated with simple zooms and pans to simulate camera movement (using software such as Final Cut Pro). These animations can be combined with available animatics, sound effects and dialog to create a presentation of how a film could be shot and cut together. Examples of these exist on the DVD special features for several feature films.

durring this stage i am choping and changing alot to figure out where i want this animation to be, the story board can look good in theory but it only really comes together during the animatic.

 mpi305

How to do a Mind Map

Mind mapping (or concept mapping) involves writing down a central idea and thinking up new and related ideas which radiate out from the centre. By focussing on key ideas written down in your own words, and then looking for branches out and connections between the ideas, you are mapping knowledge in a manner which will help you understand and remember new information. study skills online Tony  Buzan. (1991). The mind map book . New York: Penguin. http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/mindmap/howto.html