Claudia Herbst-Tait
Professor
Pratt Institute
Department of Digital Arts


Your thesis project is an animation/video and you are planning to graduate this semester?
This page is for you! What follows is a list of what you are required to turn in.

Thesis Paper:

Be advised that your thesis paper will likely require several revisions before it can be considered "final".
This process takes time. Also, always turn in your previous draft (which includes my comments) along with the new draft.
On average, I will take between 5 and 7 days to read your paper.

Please note that I will review your paper but not correct grammar issues. Make sure to have your paper reviewed by someone
in the Writing Center (located in North Hall 101) before you turn it in. You can reach them at 718.636.4461.

Before your paper is ready for final printing: Make sure to consult the Graduate Theses section on the Pratt Institute Libraries
website http://library.pratt.edu/theses.html

Do not consider your paper "finalized" until I give you the go-ahead to print on archival paper.

Hand in two copies of your paper, printed on archival paper (check here for specifics regarding the paper).
Do not bind the paper, staple the paper, or attach a clip, etc.

Place each copy of the paper in an envelope that is labeled properly.

Include an Information Sheet
The information sheet is to be included with your Deliverables as a PDF file on CD.
1. Name - Your full first and last name.
2. Email Address - Your Pratt email and personal email addresses.
3. Phone Number
4. Date of Birth - Month, day, and year.
5. Nationality
6. Title - of your project.
7. Total Run Time (TRT) – the duration of your project, in minutes and seconds
Example: 02:44 min/sec
8. Synopsis - A one (1) to three (3) sentence description of your project. (30 words
maximum)
9. Summary - A brief* description including information on concepts, themes and
techniques used. (between 100 and 150 words)
10. Production Notes - List all components you are responsible for, and include any
contributors here. List composers, actors and performers appearing in your project.
11. Hardware and Software – List all equipment and software programs used to create
your project.
12. Bio – Write a brief narrative bio in the near-future tense*. Include your most recently
DDA Thesis Guidelines Page 10 August 2010 earned degree, any notable achievements,
awards, honors, where you currently reside and what you do. Use your own words; be succinct
and professional. (100 words maximum)


Preparing Animation and Video Files for Graduate Thesis Projects

Do not consider your work "finalized" (e.g., render "final" frames) unless I give you the go-ahead.

Credits
The opening or closing credits on all visual projects must reflect the information contained on the
title page of the thesis. This includes the following:
• Your name
• The title of your thesis
• The name of your thesis advisor
• The name of the department Chairperson
• Credit for contributors or collaborators, if any
• List of software used
• The words “Pratt Institute” (logo required)
• The words “Department of Digital Arts”
• The date (month and year)
• A copyright statement in the following format: “© [year] [Your name]”*

To fulfill departmental requirements, turn in (I may ask you for additional copies of your work for my own records):
One uncompressed Quicktime file of your final project on as many data DVD discs as needed (*For projects containing
visual effects work, include a separate .mov file with your complete project).

One (1) playable DVD of your project. Do not include DVD menus

Do not place text close to any edge of the video frame because it will be cut off when it is projected.
Turn on the “title safe/action safe” indicators in your video editing software to show the safe areas.

All time-based projects must be edited using either DV-NTSC or HDTV settings specified below:

DV-NTSC:
Resolution: 720 x 480
Pixel Aspect Ratio: 0.9

HDTV: (720p - not 720i)
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square

For both DV-NTSC and HDTV:
• Interlacing: NONE
• Frame Rate: 29.97 fps
• Compression: NONE
• Audio: 48 kHz sampling rate, 16-bit stereo, uncompressed (WAF, AIFF or SD-II)
It is important that the Codec option in the Export options box is set to “None”.

Label al discs clearly with a permanent marker or use LightScribe.
CDs and DVDs with adhesive labels will NOT be accepted.

Do not underestimate the time it takes to finalize and prepare your materials for submission!