What is Motion Graphics?
Motion graphics is a digital
technique that combines pictures, words, sound and video. Motion graphics are
usually displayed via electronic media technology, but may be displayed via manual powered
technology. It combines different
creative elements like typography, illustration, logos, shapes and video. They
are then animated or moved in a way that tells a story. A great example
of the purest and simplest form of animation and motion graphics combined is an
animated GIF.
After effects
-Short-cut sheet
Adobe After
Effects is a
digital motion graphics, visual effects and compositing app developed by Adobe Systems used in the post-production process of film making and television production. After Effects can
also be used as a basic editor,
media transcoder an Animation creator. Adobe After Effects is primarily
used for creating motion graphics and visual effects.
After Effects allows users to animate, alter and composite media in 2D and 3D
space with various built-in tools and third party plug-ins, as well as
individual attention to variables like parallax and user-adjustable
angle of observation.
Glossary of terms
Vector Graphics
A vector graphic is the most common graphic type found in
motion graphics and typically come from Illustrator. A vector graphic is based
on paths or stokes which lead to different control points that make up the
graphic. Each one of these points has a definitive position on the work plane.
Vector graphics are popular because you can scale it up or down and it never
loses quality.
Raster Graphics
Pixel-based raster graphics will typically come from a
program like Photoshop. These graphics are made up of individual coloured
squares (pixels), which are all assigned a specific location and colour value. The
amount of pixels that make up a graphic is determined by the resolution. So this
means if a bitmap graphic is scaled up or down it can lose quality. With motion
graphics, vector based images are typically used more often, but there are
still times when a bitmap graphic is very useful.
Frames
Frames are the individual images that make up a moving
sequence. When these images are played back at a certain speed the movement is
created. The speed at which these images are displayed is determined by the
frame rate. The most common frame rate is 24 frames-per-second, meaning 24
individual images are displayed over one second. However, depending on the
output the frames-per-second may vary.
Trim
Trimming refers to the process of cutting out segments of a
layer by removing frames from the beginning or end. This is a process which is
used very often when a layer’s effect or animation is no longer important. For example,
a layer may be needed for a few seconds of the sequence, but after those few
seconds it doesn't serve a purpose. So instead of having the layer be
calculated the entire time, you can trim the frames back to the point where the
layers effect ends.
Real-time preview
(RAM preview)
A real-time preview allows you to play back the entire
composition, including all the effects directly in the program without having
to render out the sequence. In After Effects this is called a RAM preview. While
it’s definitely faster than rendering, depending on the length of the video,
and the quality of the real-time preview it can take anywhere from a few
seconds, to a few minutes.
Timecode
The time-code is a type of display in After Effects showing
the exact time in a composition in hours, minutes, seconds and frames. For example,
the timecode in the screenshot above that says 0:00:26:13 is 0 hours, 00
minutes, 26 seconds, and 13 frames. This is great for being able to see the
exact moment an effect occurs or where exactly a layer’s effect ends.
Layers
You’re probably familiar with layers if you've ever used a
program like Photoshop or Illustrator. When you’re creating motion graphics you
will most likely be working in After Effects, and After Effects handles layers
basically the same way. A single layer can hold anything from graphics, text,
effects, shapes, etc. Depending on the how the layers are stacked on one
another will determine how they appear in the composition. In order to create
complex motion design you will often be working with numerous different layers
to create the finished project.
Adjustment Layers
An adjustment layer is a type of layer that is used to apply
effects to multiple layers at once. Whenever you apply an effect to a layer the
effect applies only to that particular layer. With an adjustment layer the
effect created on the adjustment layer can exist independently of the other
layers. So for instance, if to create an adjustment layer, the effect applied
to the layer will affect any of the other layers below it. If the adjustment
layer is at the bottom of the layer stack then it will have no effect on the
composition.
3D Layers
When creating motion graphics in a program like After
Effects the basic graphics you manipulate are flat two-dimensional layers. With
a 3D layer the layer itself remains flat, but it gains additional properties
like position, anchor point, scale, and rotation. Any layer can be a 3D layer,
creating the illusion something is 3D when its actually 2D.
Keyframes
Keyframes mark a specific point in time where a significant
change happens. In motion graphics this can be a keyframe that marks the start
and end of an effect or used to create animated movement, like text flying into
the composition or different graphical elements being animated. Typically there
will need to be two keyframes needed to create movement. The first keyframe
will make the point in time where you want the movement or effect to start, and
a keyframe at the end which marks the moment in time when the effect or
movement should end. Depending on the complexity of the effect or animation
there can be just two key frames or hundreds used on a single layer.
Timeline
The timeline is an interactive interface found in a program
like After Effects that displays all the important information like the frames
in the sequence, the layers within the composition, as well as audio and video
information, and where the layers can be trimmed, and effects can be added. This
is also the area where you will create and edit the keyframes for an effect or
animation on a specific layer.
Ease in Ease out
This refers to one of the 12 animation principles which are
mentioned very often in the motion graphics world. Ease in refers to the
gradual acceleration, and ease out refers to the gradual deceleration of a movement.
Since nothing in the real world really gets up to full speed instantly or slows
down instantly the same idea can be applied to your motion graphic’s animation.
In After Effects this can be quickly achieved with an easy Ease keyframe.
Motion Tracking
With motion tracking, you can track the movement of an object and then apply the
tracking data for that movement to another object—such as another layer or an
effect control point—to create compositions in which images and effects follow
the motion. You can also stabilize motion, in which case the tracking data is
used to animate the tracked layer to compensate for movement of an object in
that layer.
After Effects tracks motion by
matching image data from a selected area in a frame to image data in each
succeeding frame. This is done by using tracking points.
Bouncing ball
This was my first creation using After Effects. I think this
was quite successful for my first attempt. I started by creating the simple
ball shape using the shape tool. I then went on to create a path. The path had
individual plotted points which the ball followed to make it look as if the
ball was bouncing across the page. I learned from trial and error that making
the path smoother gave the ball a better flow.
Battery
My second task was to create moving image and type. I did
this by creating a simple battery. In order to create this I had create simple
shapes and use null objects. After a simple demonstration I found this task
quite easy.
Logo
From a previously created radio logo I made on Adobe
Illustrator I began a simple traditional story board. From this story board I then
created a digital version which I used as a template to help me with my After
Effects clip.
Using the Adobe Illustrator file of my logo I brought it into
After Effects where I began making my short sequence. Although this took quite
a while, with the use of YouTube tutorials I was able to grasp the techniques
quite quick. I am very pleased with the
outcome however with sound I think it would improve the standard of my clip.
Character
I then went on to create a short clip of a character I drew traditionally and created digitally. This was a long process that included creating the character, adding movement to the character, creating the background and adding sound effects.
Although this took long I am quite pleased with my outcome.
http://vimeo.com/117449074
Studio Ghibli, Inc
Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio based in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. The studio is best known for its anime feature films, and has also produced several short films, television commercials, and one television film. Many of Ghibli's films in Japan are theatrically distributed by Toho while home video releases are handled by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Japan
Founded in June 1985, the studio is headed by the directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and the producer Toshio Suzuki. Prior to the formation of the studio, Miyazaki had already had a long career in Japanese film and television animation.
Miyazaki incorporated his own ideas, beliefs and philosophy’s on society into his work. Planning his work around a central message
relatable to young and old viewers. He is even referenced
by other high profile film makers in their own work. While other big name
animators have made the transition into 3D, Miyazaki has continued to devote
his work to 2D animation. Two of his most well-known works include 'Spirited
Away' and 'My Neighbour Totoro'. Miyazaki has a strong love of nature, “We need courtesy toward water, mountains,
and air in addition to living things. We should not ask courtesy from these
things, but we ourselves should give courtesy toward them instead.” Miyazaki
carries this idea into Spirited away.
Interview with Miyazaki :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3G8PBrwgII
Evaluation
Overall
I am very pleased with my final outcomes and feel that i've gained a
good understanding of After Effects. One of the outcomes I was very
pleased with was my radio logo. After using Youtube videos to learn
new techniques, I felt myself becoming quite advanced with the
programme (After Effects). However to improve this animation I could
have added sound such as the fire crackling. Although this wasn't
complete I think the whole composition was quite complex as I had
time to plan the full idea.
I
intend to use the skills i have learnt throughout the course in the
future and hopefully apply it to my FMP.