UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INCORPORATED

High School Department

Malvar, Santiago City-3311, Philippines
A.Y 2024-2025

Topic: Technology-Based Art

Technology-based art - is essentially computer-generated and/or manipulated. Through the centuries, visual
artists used actual brushes and palettes, and a whole array of paints, ink, and natural pigments applied to
paper, canvas, fabric, stucco walls and ceilings. Today's computer artist employs the ever-expanding powers
of image manipulation programs and applications to create their works which can appear in an entire range of
media - whether as a physical output or a virtual experience.

Original and Early Stages

Computer art or digital art first came on the scene in the early 1960's. Understandably, this was due to
technology that was constantly developing and that became available at that time. Thus, the early
experimenters were not necessarily artist, but engineers and scientists who had access to and experiences
with the hardware needed. It was they who began to recognize the potential artistic expression through the
application of scientific and mathematical principle.

In fact, you will note a strong scientific or mathematical look and feel to the creations of many digital
artists. Geometric forms and repeating palters appear frequently. More traditional subjects like human beings,
landscapes, animals, and still life elements are simply Incorporated as part of those forms and patters - rather
than as the focus.

Digital Art

Advancements in computer and digital technology have been transforming the art world for the past few
decades, permeating every aspect of modern life. Consequently, it was only a matter of time before these
technologies evolved into forms and devices that could be mass-produced, widely distributed, and easily
accessible to all. In other words, anyone can now capture and edit images and videos, create, manipulate, and
share artworks, and even compose music. You are likely already a digital artist in your own right. Examples
include:

1. Mobile Phone Art

The mobile phone that you constantly hold as evolved from a mere communication tool, into a creative device
that allows you to generate original works of art for an entire range of purposes. These could be personal
photographs and videos that you can manipulate with a myriad special effect, both visual as well as sound and
music. They could also be school projects or reports that require you to combine images, Incorporate text,
even
include simple animation.

And the wonder of it all is that you can do all these right on your own mobile devices, particularly the new
generation models known as android tablets, phones, and combination of both called "phablets".

You are probably already familiar with the following image manipulation programs and applications that
run on today's android devices stated during the first activity.

Examples:
 UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INCORPORATED
High School Department
Malvar, Santiago City-3311, Philippines
A.Y 2024-2025

2. Computer-Generated Images or CGI

CGIs are images made using computer software for movies, television shows, video games, and online
commercials. If you want to create original Images from scratch, you may make your own illustrations using
specialized programs for images generation and manipulation.

There are scaled-down versions of such programs specifically developed for used on smaller, handheld units
like your personal tablet or android phone. These enable you to perform virtually all the tasks that a program
like illustrator performs but, almost literally, in the palm of your hand. Many of these come at a fraction of the
cost of the more complex programs or, in some cases, even for free. Among such programs are:

Digital works such as CGIs, Images, and videos are made using mobile devices, digital photography, digital
painting, digital imaging, and video games. GIF files are all works of art because they carry emotional and
intellectual sophistication, express complex ideas, and move the spectators.

Applications for CGI:

3. Digital Photography
In the case of today's electronic technology, that would mean recording the image using a digital camera or a
device with a built-in camera, like your mobile phone, android device, or tablet.

Digital photography has become mainstream (quite common) and can now be accessed by many people,
especially when prices of digital cameras, smartphones, and software started to fall due to competition in the
market. The spread of photography is revolutionary because it gives ordinary individuals the power to create
art or just to express themselves using photography.

Basic Tips for Taking Good Photographs

Whether you are using a point-and-shoot camera or a SLR, there are basic guidelines for capturing a good
quality photographic image:
1. Choose a good location. An interesting location can sometimes make the difference between a good and a
great photo.
2. Check that the available background is relatively simple and not too cluttered, so that the focus will be
on your chosen subject.
3. Natural light in the outdoor or near a window is usually the most faltering or effective for any kind of
subject. Ideally, the best light for photos is within the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset.
4. Avoid taking shots facing the light, as this would make your subject backlit and most of the details would
be lost in shadow.
5. If you intend to take a posed shot, position your subject where you want in relation to the location,
background, and source of light.
 UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INCORPORATED
High School Department
Malvar, Santiago City-3311, Philippines
A.Y 2024-2025

6. If you intend to take a candid shot, position your subject where you can capture the most interesting,
amusing, touching, or engaging moment or expression.
7. Take a variety of shots - ranging from far shots showing the surroundings, to medium-distance shots
concentrating on the main subject, to tight or close-up shots that focus on details of the subject. You can then
choose from among all these for the best photo or photos.

Point-and-Shoot vs. DSLR

The multi-step process described above has been overtaken by the magic of digital photography.
Today's users have the option of a "point-and-shoot” type of digital camera which automatically makes all the
adjustments in lighting, focus, zoom-In and zoom-out, even removal of "red eye" with the user being given
some leeway for slight adjustment.
A second option is the digital single lens reflexes (DSLR) camera. This also provides the film-less
and distant review features of a "point and shoot" type of digital camera but gives the photographer much more
artistic freedom and control to select the camera setting to create the desired final Image with the preferred
visual effects.

Without needing years of training and experience, we are now be able to capture image with professional
quality results.

4.Video Games
For today's younger generation that grew up in a digital world, even entertainment now comes courtesy
of computer devices. A major component of such entertainment is in the form of video games of every
conceivable genre, subject matter, and skill level.

These range from educational games and mind twisters, lo building and construction games, to ones
that entail physical Interaction by the users (sports, fitness, and dance). Then there are the tremendously
popular games of strategy, war, science fiction, and mythical worlds that employ amazingly complex and
realistic graphic, motion, sound, and other special effects.

Examples of Programs:
Twine - https://winery.org/
Stencyl - http://www.udemy.com/create-your-first-computer-game-wilh-stencyl
Game Maker - https://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker

Programs like Twine, Stencyl, and Game Maker are used for creating video games by offering
accessible platforms for both beginners and experienced developers.

Twine is primarily used for creating interactive, story-driven games or "interactive fiction." It allows
users to create branching narratives where the player makes choices that affect the outcome, without
needing to know any coding. It’s popular for developing text-based or simple web-based games with a
focus on storytelling.

Stencyl is a game development tool designed for creating 2D games without requiring advanced
programming skills. It uses a visual block-based coding system similar to Scratch, making it user-
friendly for beginners. It allows creators to design characters, environments, and game mechanics, and
export games to various platforms like iOS, Android, and HTML5.

Game Maker is another accessible tool for creating 2D games. It offers both drag-and-drop
functionality for beginners and a coding language (GML) for more experienced developers. It is widely
 UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INCORPORATED
High School Department
Malvar, Santiago City-3311, Philippines
A.Y 2024-2025
used for creating platformers, puzzle games, and other types of 2D games, and it supports exporting
games to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, and consoles.

These programs are used by aspiring game developers to design, prototype, and build games, offering
an entry point into the world of game development without requiring deep programming knowledge.

5. Digital Painting
It is a method of creating an artwork using a computer. Digital painting still makes use of traditional
painting mediums such as acrylic paint, oils, Ink, and watercolor and applies the pigment to traditional
surfaces, such as canvas, paper, polyester etc. But it does so by employing computer software that drives a
type of robot device (such plotter) or an office machine (such as a printer) that takes the place of the artist's
hand.

Digital painting also refers to a technique using graphics software programs to create an artwork that is
totally virtual. The canvas, brushes, paints, and other tools are all virtual, existing only within the computer and
the finished work is also stored in virtual format, to be shared through cyber space.

Example: Sketchbook

A sketchbook application is a digital tool that allows artists and

designers to create drawings, sketches, and illustrations on a
smartphone or tablet. Sketchbook apps usually include a
variety of drawing tools, such as brushes, pencils, pens, and
erasers, as well as features like blending modes and layers.