Three things I learned from “Selecting Digital Media for Your Website”
I learned about the acronym “CRaN”
- Clear - Ensure that the image is high-quality, crisp, and easy for the viewer to discern.
- Relevant - Ensure that the content of the image is applicable and focused on what you are discussing on your page. Consider all aspects of the image, including the background.
- Natural - Ensure the image is not too jarring to the eyes. When unsure, lean towards images that are clean, simple, and don’t appear forced.
I learned that Fair use is context-specific: educational and non-commercial uses, especially when transformative, are more likely to be considered fair use, but the amount of material shared, and access restrictions also matter.
Creative Commons Licenses simplify legal use: They allow you to use, share, or modify content without contacting the creator directly, as long as you follow the license terms.
What I learned in the “Multimedia Design”
Tips to make more impactful media products:
- Make sure the multimedia is accessible
- Hook your audience
- Be creative and social
- Hook your audience
- Use visuals
- Use media in an ethical and legal manner
Audience-focused design is crucial – effective digital media considers who the audience is, what they already know, and any misconceptions they might have. Using familiar language helps engagement.
Variety in audio content can enhance learning - instructional clips, interviews, narrated stories, and podcasts are all ways to use audio to make content more engaging.
- What is Copyright?
Copyright is a law that gives the creator of something the exclusive right to use, share, or sell it. It means others can’t copy, use, or distribute that work without permission.
- How do we ensure we are not violating copyrights when using images or multimedia elements from the web?
To make sure you’re not violating copyright terms when using images or other forms of media, you can:
- Use your own work.
- Use free or licensed content. (Royalty free, creative commons)
- Ask permission to use certain works.
- Give credit.
- How does branding affect the use of images, color, and multimedia?
Provide examples.
Branding affects how images, colors, and multimedia are used because it helps make a company or website recognizable and consistent. What you show online should match the “feel” or identity of the brand.
Color – Brands like Coca-Cola use red and Pepsi use blue.
Images – Travel websites use pictures of mountains and other natural scenery to advertise adventure.
Multimedia – A tech brand like apple uses clean, simple videos to advertise their products because clean and simple is their brand.
- How do images and multimedia affect the design of websites?
Images and multimedia affect the design of a website because they are used to grab attention and make content easier to understand. They also create a mood or style for the site.
List of free resources:
Soundcloud (depends on page/FMA is a good option)
October is over 🙁 (this is copyright free image.)
