Have you come across some lovely videos, and thought ” Damn! That’s creative!” I wish I could do something like that for my brand. Most of the quirky and creative videos you watch on the internet are motion graphics. Well, you might wonder, what is motion graphics? It is literally moving(motion) graphic designs (add animation to it), and there you have it, your motion graphic.
You may think, why try motion graphics out? It may be as hard as animation. Let us tell you something; it is not. Another reason why you must try out motion graphics is that the content on the internet is swiftly shifting towards videos. Cisco, a multinational telecommunications technology company, has predicted that by 2022, 82% of all internet traffic will be contain video views. Even right now, the internet is rich with videos. So, if you want to stay ahead of the game, you must check out graphic motion.
The term “Motion Graphic” has two parts – motion and graphics. Basically, it is a graphic design that becomes animated. It is the text, which is primarily animated. Have you watched the opening credits of Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960)?
The video is an outstanding example of early motion graphics, and it is one of the greatest motion graphics inspiration for motion designers.
The definition of motion graphics is it is a video that uses animation to add motion to its graphic design. Moreover, the motion graphic video isn’t live-action but uses animation only for movement. Many of you may get confused with motion graphic, animation, and videos. So, we have explained it all in detail below.
NOTE : Animation is the technique that makes static objects or images move; it may be hand-drawn cartoons, CGI, anime, claymation, or motion graphics. The animation is a blanket term for CGI, cartoons, anime, and motion graphic.
When you look around on the internet, you will find several stunning motion graphic videos. But we have rounded up a few that are a treat to the eyes, and you can borrow some design inspiration from them.
You may think that using motion design software would be a piece of cake. While it is easy for professionals, it may be hard for a layman. Adobe After effects is perfect for 2 D animation. It brings together all the elements of your storyboard together seamlessly. Moreover, there are many free tutorials of Adobe After effects that you can learn on the internet.
Adobe premiere pro is a part of the Creative Cloud like the Adobe After effects. But it has more premium features of animation. It is a timeline-based editing app Motion designer used to edit videos and sounds. The new version of the software has many premium features that give the tool an upper edge over its competitors.
Maya is an important tool in animation. It is used for 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software. Most of the studios use it for modeling and animating, so it is a popular tool. If you want just to do a simple animation, you can use another tool because Maya is strictly for professionals.
Cinema 4D is easy to learn if you have used Adobe after effects. It is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering application developed by Maxon. This software offers similar quality of modeling and texturing like other 3d modeling software like (MAYA,3DS Max, and Blender). You can try out the student version of the software, which is free so that you can get the hang of it.
Offeo’s animation maker is a simple answer for anyone who wants to do animation without learning animation. You can upload your images, change the background, and add animation effects with genie animator. Anyone new to making videos can learn it super fast. Offeo can create simple animated videos in a few clicks. So, if you are a one-person team, or a newbie, or want to save time, you can use Offeo.
Now that we have had a good look at some motion graphic videos for inspiration let’s learn more about it. If you liked what you saw, and want to add such content to your brand, then you must know when to use it.
If you want to revamp your brand, then you can use some animation to turn things around. Spruce up the graphic design on your page, add some motion to your logo and images. A memorable motion design will set the tone for your brand. It is a great way to make a statement without actually trying. Have you seen the motion graphic of the page “Gobble”? It is fun and great art. They use just a text and animation to create an effective logo, which they use in every video.
If you are a videographer or a creator who want to make beautiful credit sequence for your video, then you can use motion graphic. Like we mentioned earlier, the opening credits of the Jessica Jones series or the credits of the “True Detective” series. Motion graphic inspiration can be taken from some of these famous examples, like the opening credits of the movie “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In credits, you mostly have to deal with text, and animation, so it seems like the right way to do it.
Even though motion graphic is mainly devoted to creating animation with text, it can also be used to create product videos. Making full-fledged animation videos can be expensive and time taking. But motion design makes your job easier. You can get the impact of animation without using much animation. Here is a product video of Lavit. It explains the product in a fun and creative way.
Other than these instances, you can use motion graphic whenever the need arises. You can create a motion graphic video to create awareness, or explain a process, or just tell a story.
If you are alone on the board, and you don’t have to interact with a team, then you can get started by jotting down ideas for motion design. But if you have a dedicated team of motion designers, the process will be different. Here is the process you need to follow to make a motion design.
The first step when getting started is the script. But the script has two aspects. First, you need to write the script for the voiceover and on-screen text. Then you also need to keep in mind that the motion design will have a sequence, so write a scene direction. It is the written descriptions of what will be shown on-screen during each part of the script. If you are a team of one, you can research and come up with ideas, but if you are working with a team, make sure the scripting process is interactive and collaborative. Ensure that the designers, content writers, researchers, animators, and project managers are all present in one room to brainstorm and plan the design inspiration. Work on the script with engagement in mind.
The next step in the process is storyboarding. It is an integral part of the animation. Here the script and scene direction are combined with sketches that help bring them to life. The work of designers now begins. Sketches may vary in quality depending on the budget, timeline, and choose the production process. Each storyboard may be displayed scene-by-scene alongside the script and scene-direction notes.
The art phase is a crucial step where the story comes to life. The designers or artists make sure that the images come alive with the story you have in mind. The artwork phase may take time, as it needs attention to detail. Moreover, the art created by designers in this phase will go to the next phase that is animation. So, you will have the art phase( graphics), and the animation are in sync. Check, and double-check, and take feedbacks. The finalized product of this phase will enter the next step. If there is a mistake in the art, then it will be reflected in the animation as well, so be careful.
In case you decided to make an audio less motion design, then you do not have to go through this step. But if you want to add audio, then you need to follow this step. You can record the voiceover you wish to add to the video or add music to the video when it is ready. Voiceovers need a separate script, so prepare and practice it beforehand.
When your artwork is ready, you can hop in with the designers and watch them work the magic. Adding different styles of animations is difficult, so work closely with the motion designers and ask them to explain which scope of changes will be easier to make and will be in the budget. If you are making the motion design yourself, then you need some help. There is animation and motion graphics software out there that you can use. We have mentioned a few of them which can come in handy.
There are many options out there that you can use. But it all depends on what kind of animation you want to use in your motion design. If you’re going to do 2D vector animation, then Adobe After effects is the best option. But if you’re going to do 3D animation, then Cinema 4d or Maya are the options to go with.
It all depends on your vision for the motion design. How long do you want the motion design to be? What is the design inspiration? How much time is the graphic design going to take? How creative do you want it to be? Generally, creating motion design can take from a few minutes to even as long as 4-6 weeks.
Motion graphic is changing the mundane representation of images. It can breathe life into graphic designs and makes it more creative. If you want some motion design inspiration, then we have mentioned some of the examples above. Watching those great pieces will surely motivate you to use motion graphic in your content strategy.
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