Limitations: Analogue, Digital Recording and Transmission Systems

Analogue, Digital Recording and Transmission Systems!

Chandler, D & Munday, R. 2011. A Dictionary of Media and Communication. Oxford University Press

Digital recordings are generally the only way in which we create our graphics. However, this does mean that those who still tend to only use an analogue system would generally have a lesser version of the final graphic due to the fact of the aspect resolution, colour, resolution would all be affected within the image. These customers would generally not likely be satisfied with the image in which they are provided with. 

With simply transmission systems, these are generally named this as they transmit signals. The overall digital recordings in which we create are made digitally. The current way in which the recordings are transmitted as well as recorded will all be affecting the finished product on screen. Some devices may not be able to pick up the graphic as perfectly as other devices which would be able to pick up the graphic. 

Once a graphic is then transferred from digital to analogue to the overall quality of the actual image would then likely to decrease. Due to our analogue systems unfortunately including less pixels per inch meaning it will have more issues with noise of an image. In this day and age we now tend to prefer digital over analogue just due to the fact that they won't pick up as much noise as well as having a better quality in terms of the overall image. This is generally why the demand has gone up for digital and decreased for analogue. 

Limitation: Size & Aspect-Ratio

Size!

When you're creating an ident it is generally a good idea to think about the overall dimensions which are within video screens. In terms of the most common formats, this would be rectangular which is described by ratio of the overall width vs the height. Aspect Ratio, the most common would be 16:9 which is generally the standard HDTV format. However, with older television display less space so the producers generally would tend to keep text and other important elements within a safe area which they wouldn't have the same widescreen quality as the recent newer models of televisions. 

Aspect-Ratio!

There is generally no standardised screen format. However this generally just means that there is potentially no control over the final output of the transmitted graphic. This would be a clear limitation, as a graphic could potentially lose its quality. This would lead into analogue as well as digital transmission systems. 

Aspect ratio is generally the width of the screen and comparing it to the height. With traditional TV's they have a ratio of 4:3. An example of a 32 inch traditional television screen would generally be 25.5 inches wide and then 19 inches tall. Wide screen aspect ratios are 16:9. 32 inch widescreen televisions would be around 28 inches and then 19 inches tall. 

Looking at anamorphic, which is known as a cinematic which is conventionally known as the overall screen size in which we watch during a trip to the cinema. They generally have much larger screens which would incidate that the films/ shows and adverts in which are shown would need to have a high resolution. 

The ratio would really vary, and this would depend on the actual device in which you would be using. 

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Limitations: Colour

Colour!

In terms of colour, different colours tend to be used within idents which should in general incorporate the channels overall brand of colours into an order which would strengthen the brands image, identity. This however can limit channels to only be using colours to a stock palate. Colours are typically used within a line which would target audience for example when focusing towards young children's channel they will be utilising primary colours. 

Obviously with colours they wouldn't generally appear within black and white telvision and would tend to not likely appear as they were intended to. This therefore could potentially effect the overall design as well as impact of the on-screen graphics have on the viewers. RGB which stands for Red, Green and Blue is known as a colour model which is used for screens. The problem with red is generally that it is too prone to noise, which is why graphic designers tend to not use this colour when they are aware that the graphic would be transmitted to various devices with different screen sizes as well as resolutions. YUV tends to be liked RGB but it is a colour encoding system which is generally used for analogue TV. 

To a degree some colours would work nicely alongside each other where as a few wouldn't work as nicely together. This would all be based on how a colour wheel would work. An example could potentially could be pink and orange, this would be due to the fact that they could become garish and the colours could potentially clash together, one outdoing the other. It would also generally become quite irritating for the audience to attempt to read what would be on the screen. The colours work with Primary colours and colours which would match them, we would call these complimentary colours. RBY, Red, blue and yellow, these would stand as primary colours. However, with the complimentary colours these would be red is green, yellow is purple and blue is orange. This means that you would be able to use these colours for the background and text colours wouldn't be garish or too difficult to read. Where as if you were to use green and yellow this would blend together and generally cause strain to your eyes. 

Some idents generally can't use certain colours as other channels have already used that colour for their ident and it generally stands as a statement that, that colour would be for that channel. Also the colours in whcih they would have used would generally reflect their audience and shows in which they are showing for example with BBC One they wouldn't use purple for their idents as E4 is already using it as their signature colour, also with the colour it wouldn't fit in with the channel as it is a colour which is more related with a more fun atmosphere and with the BBC One logo it is more serious and factual. So with very bright colours they wouldn't work with idents as it generally would make it difficult for people to see as well as if people were to have a bad eye sight it could generally mess with their eyes and cause pain. 

Limitations: Resolution

Resolution!

There are four main resolutions:

Standard-definition television - which is 480i and 576i.

Enhanced-definition television - which is 480p and 576p.

High-definition television - which is 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

Ultra-high definition television - which is 2160p, 4320p and 8640p 

Resolution is the overall detail of a specific image on screen. It is generally well known and is believed that the more pixels in which are there the better the overall quality is. The resolution of different screen sizes, meaning different computers as well as other devices would vary. PC's are most likely to have higher quality resolution over televisions. The resolution of the output device would generally also affect the overall impact of the graphics onto the audience. If the quality is low for example then it wouldn't be very high quality for the viewer to be looking at due to it looking grainy and pixelated effect would then be created. However, back in the day this poor quality would not have been considered poor as it was all they knew and would have generally thought of it as being a grad advancement in technology. However, with audiences now they are so accustomed to being able to access to their high quality that they wouldn't want to really want to watch something in lets say black and white and really bad pixels etc. 

              Low Resolution          High Resolution 

The actual resolution of different devices in the world is generally another limitation which has a relation to typography, this would be because it could potentially affect how the typography would be read. Even today in our society with technology there are still technical limitations. More fringing in regards to the effect of changing angles when two straight lines are so close together that they would generally create the overall illusion of movement. This can generally be quite irritating for many of the viewers as they would stay focusing on that rather than what they're actually watching. More fringing can generally happen when clothing for example would be worn with thing such as shirts which have stripes on them. 

Low Resolution Example:



High Resolution Example:

Limitation: Typography

Typography!

With External Agencies they tend to be employed by certain institutions which are generally limited to certain 'house fonts' which could be used by that certain company. 

With typography you would have to consider that there are many different channels in which use vass amounts of typography. An example of this would be BBC1 using a plain and original, simple typography. This would generally class as a limitation because it makes you have to cut down on the creative side in which you could show. 

Here is an image of an ident in which BBC1 had used and it shows the general simpleness of the typography in which BBC1 uses. However, with the colour limitations, limited typography can potentially also be seen as positive as it would help the channel build an overall recognisable brand in which the audience would be familiar with. With the limited typography this generally means that the idents across the actual channel would be linked and would generally be quite obvious to be for one channel. 

Typography is generally a method which involves text being placed on a screen. This would be a limitation as it has to be legible as well as easy to read. Back in the day/ the past there didn't tend to be many device types that were on the market this generally meant that the overall quality and screen sizes were fairly similar. This shows and means that back in the day typography wasn't really taken seriously in terms of not done with a lot of thinking. 

These days with the release of new versions of computer software and models which create different screen resolutions. This generally affects the quality of the typography as well as how it appears on different devices. It may even become pixelated or too small which would make it difficult to read. If the on-screen graphics were to be created using a smaller screen than the one it will be broadcasted on then perhaps it may even pixelate. 

Opportunities: Encouragement of Brand Loyalty

Encouragement of Brand Loyalty!

Idents are generally created for the use of promotion and to form a potential identity which would stick for a brand. Over the years and continued uses of idents in-between programming as well as onscreen graphics during programmes have generally helped with the encouragement of brand loyalty due to the brand logo always being presented onscreen audience becoming familiar with the logo, this would therefore generate somewhat of a relation between the viewer and the channels brand. Graphics within the programmes are also used as a way of branding the overall content in which is shown on that specific channel, due to the fact that their logo is always visible, therefore showing that they are always putting their name onto productions, which generally states a valid point to the viewers that this product follows the channels values and overall aims. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOL366q6QkM

ITV generally have a huge range of idents in which are being advertised daily through their channels. The idents which are being portrayed are either similar or the exact same. Overall, they would do this for the use of being able to attract brand loyalty to their audiences. They would often use family guy for these uses as it is a popular TV show and good to use to promote their channel. ITV within the UK is the only channel which shows Family Guy unless you have an active prescription with FOX, but generally ITV is the only free channel which airs Family Guy. 

An example of the comedian effect used from Family Guy is shown below:

Opportunities: Appeal to Target Audience

Appeal to Target Audience!

Idents tend to be typically aimed towards a certain demographic group, which would be split up into age and gender. Even though some of the on-screen graphics are of places as opposed to people, which overall would generally bring in the idea of psychographics. 

Psychographics is the general meaning of being able to study and classify people in terms of being able to accord them based on attitudes, aspirations and generally other psychological criteria, especially within market research. 

On screen graphics generally offer to you the opportunity to be able to appeal to a target audience in many ways rather than just a few methods. 

An ident I will be talking about is, Comedy Central London, this is generally a city which shows a graphic animation as the logo as it his the gherkin and wobbles. This is to add the overall comedy part of it and also to suggest and show that it would likely never happen. This suggests to me that the channels target audience would generally be people who are interested within the comedy genre which I feel why the name is 'Comedy Central'. The idea of the ident showing the city of London I feel could generally be to some extent an indication that men or women who are living within London (demographics - geographical location) would therefore enjoy watching the channel or have an overall better interaction, which could generally be due to the English jokes in which are being made within the programmes as an example. In terms of other idents they would tend to use more colours which would suggest that they would intend their demographic audience and objects to imply the psychographics of their audiences. 

An example of this would potentially be BBC Three Kick Step Turn Ident:



With the colours in which the ident is using I would say that it is mostly purple as well as using pink and blue which in my opinion would indicate that the ident is generally for both genders being male and female.

As for the animations in which the ident is showing would be firstly, blue heels and red lipstick which could suggest in someway that it was women's favourite. And with the car animations this could generally be aimed towards men as being a gadget in men's lives in which they would enjoy the most. With the Disco ball this could indicate a party which both men and women both enjoy doing. Lastly, with the animated people being shown, both being men and women who are joining together to dance meaning that they would show the viewers that they are being brought together because of their enjoyment of the programmes show on that specific channel. 

However, there is a downfall to using on-screen graphics and this would generally be that it is time consuming and expensive etc. 

Opportunities: Creation of Tone

Creation of Tone!

An opportunity would generally be that as a producer you would have to install your own ethos or ideology. One way in which this can be done is through the tone of a specific ident. 

Generally when trying to create a tone, on-screen graphics are used to be able to set a particular tone. With finding the correct tone it would be an opportunity for a corporate or brand identity to then be able to be successful as well as appeal to its target audience. With Colour, tempo and sound, these generally create the tone of an ident. With an ident which for say  used black and white in terms of the feel this would generally give it that old fashion feel. Which if combined with a slow pace as well as steady beat could potentially suggest a more formal tone for an older audience. However, with a lively tone this could potentially be created through the use of bright colours and upbeat audio as well as busy content. This would be applied to more of a younger generation of audiences, which would therefore reflect the tone. 


Looking at ITV, after it's re-branding. The general use of the blue within is quite a corporate colour to be using which I feel generally creates the tone of the business and its professionalism. With the turquoise mix of green as well as blue and the connotations of these colours would generally reflect the nature of it while representing that it is a new beginning and growth is underway. The overall creation of the tone generally links in with being able to appeal to a tone which would link in with being able to meet target audiences in terms of being able to appeal your show towards them to keep viewers as well as attract new ones. This would generally suggest that with ITV and its new beginning as it is an attempt to potentially be able to appeal more towards the younger generations of audiences. This to me is quite obvious just due to the fact of the use of bright colours. The overall colour scheme generally reflects the general colours in which are used in the upcomming programme ITV news. With audio, this isn't very loud or upbeat per say. But this would suggest that the main focus is meant to be more on the visual rather than just the audio. This generally shows that it can be efficient to show relevant information with a consistent awareness of time constraints. This would be to then appeal to someone who could potentially be quite busy for example a businessman, as they would generally be living busy lives and would probably have little to no time to concentrate on the audio.

However when looking later on with ITV 2 with Family Guy:


Quagmire is generally used due to the fact that it just gives off a general comical tone for the audiences who are in love with Quagmires jokey side. I feel that in terms of audiences this would be for audiences within the age range of 16-34 year olds. Which again I feel using as a brand to promote other shows on their actual channel but also are using a comical tone just generally there in the effort to be able to attract new viewers to the mix. 

Opportunities: Branding of Content

Branding of Content!

Importance, it is important that brands are using the appropriate imagery when creating their idents, this would generally be because it would help with the overall creation of tone. Within idents tone is important as it is what will be used generally to target the audience, for example within a food network organisation, the imagery here would be of food as well as cooking equipment within the ident which would generally display the correct tone for that specific channel. Idents also are needed to appeal to the right target audience and with the right tone as well as imagery this would definitely be achievable. An example of this would be CBBC channels which had a dark colour scheme for one of their idents, the tone would not generally be suitable for their audiences which then in turn would make the channel not as appealing to their target audiences.  

An example of this would be ITV when they use shows such as Family Guy and Love Island. Whereas with Channel 4 they would use 'The Big Bang Theory as well as The Simpsons. 



ITV2 tend to use a huge range of Family Guy idents to be able to promote one of their most popular shows in which they have. They tend to do this so that they are branding their content which would generally attract new audiences to the mix and they would also be promoting for other shows such as Love Island for example. 

The traditional overall meaning of branding actually related to the use of heated iron which would leave a certain mark on an object. The logo of the channel which at the end of the day would represent the channels mission, aims as well as values. They would also be the main focus within the channels idents, often 'stamped' within one of the corners on your screen in which during the programmes when aired on that channel an example of this could be for example BBC.

Opportunities: Display of Text-based Information

Display of Text-based Information!

With this having a clear opportunity of on-screen representation is generally having the ability of being able to give information and ideas visually. Although some aspects of information would generally have no other way of being shown apart from through the use of text, although this may not seem like a generally visual and appealing way of communicating information to the audience through a general visual medium such as television, on-screen graphics generally would enable it to not be so boring in terms of it just being a huge bulk of text on a screen.  

On-screen graphic representation is generally used to help sell a product. The information about the overall product is potentially conveyed in an interesting way this can be through things such as info-graphics, along with a voice over rather than a long-winded lecture which would present how 'great' the product is. On-screen graphics are also used to generally publicise a company and its overall values, missions and aims. 

A good example of this perhaps could be from the oil spillage which occurred a while ago now but the video was an animated 'infographic' which generally told the viewers about the gulf oil spill. 



Generally within the video there is a big part which is the numerical side of things and having the infograph potentially shows written words which are shown on the screen within animation, which would then allow the audience to be able to enjoy what they're reading as well as it being easier to understand, this would also take effect to the deaf community who would need infographs to make it easier to understand. I feel that this video is generally quite effective as it is showing attempts to be able to make text based information much more interesting in the way that they're adding in animations. This is generally more interesting not to just read but also visually more impacting on the audience of the video. However, even though the topic of this specific subject isn't so interested, with the use of text-based information and animations within the video have cleverly made it so that it is not just a huge block of information being shown on a screen but showing little by little with a visual demonstration using animation.