What Are Motion Graphics?

November 11, 2021
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Have you ever been b l o w n away by an animated video? I’m sure you have. And it was not the plot that left you in awe but the cool animations, transition and video effects used.

Introducing… Motion graphics!

The cool videos you see floating around the internet are usually created using motion graphics.

What are Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics are essentially animated graphic designs. They produce the illusion of motion or rotation almost as if the designs have come to life! Together with the right music and copy, they are very effective at communicating messages to an audience. Be it for advertisements, social media or infographics.

Fun fact: OFFEO is actually the brainchild of a team of motion designers based in Singapore. We are part of a company called OFFSET, where we work with major brands to produce effective storytelling. Our services include 3D, 2D animation as well as other interactive content. Do check us out, if you’re curious!

At OFFEO, we infuse our templates with different types of motion graphics to enhance visual appeal and messaging.

When to use Motion Graphics

1. To increase engagement and conversion

Marketing is a game of attention and persuasion. If your marketing efforts have been lacking lustre recently, consider boosting your brand image with high-quality videos and motion graphics.

Aim to captivate and motivate. Product placement videos are made more effective when users are drawn to its aesthetic value. Any details that can motivate a viewer to purchase should be placed up front.

More than 80% of marketers agree that video marketing has led to the greatest return on investment. Investing in video content can strengthen your overall content strategy and set you apart from competitors.

2. Draw Attention

Everything is going 3D. The evolution of content from 2D to 3D, static images to video is a bid to better capture the audience’s attention. We live in an age where we are oversaturated with content and marketing ads. To truly stand out, we need to keep up with trends and also push boundaries where possible. Visual storytelling is definitely the way forward.

Well-crafted motion graphics and videos are so effective at keeping audiences’ attention, you’re more likely to get your information across.

Take a look at our meta social media templates that makes you take a second look. The templates toy with the interface of social media platforms and makes a bold statement about them. It’s an ad within an ad!

Now, that is indeed some thumb-stopping content.

History of Motion Graphics

Before computers came about, people experimented with stop motion, the oldest type of motion graphics which also led to the birth of cinemas. In stop motion, objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames. When the series of frames are replayed, these objects appear to move independently and with a degree of realism.

The very first documented stop motion animated film is said to be in 1898 by
J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith for Vitagraph’s The Humpty Dumpty Circus. The Humpty Dumpty Circus was an animated film showing the day and the life in a toy circus.
Imagine how much this captivated the audience back then.
Fast forward to modern day technology, the birth of design software has led to incredible effects achieved by motion graphics that were unimaginable in the past!

Basics of Motion Graphic

Stop motion is created via a series of frames, and digital animation is no different! If the process of creating a stop motion video is any hint, the foundation of most animation is keyframing, in which properties of an object can be specified at certain points in time by setting a series of keyframes. The properties of the object can then be adjusted in between keyframes to add life to them.

Create your own motion graphics

Motion graphics are easier than ever to achieve today. Watch your designs come to life in our Geniemate! In one click, animate your video. Try out our bounce, slide, fade, pop and 3D effects.

What Other Tools Can Create Motion Graphics?

It doesn’t take much convincing for one to know adding motion graphics to your video is essential. You might be wondering what tools you can use to create motion graphics. Here’s a look at a few of the most popular software solutions to create motion graphics.

Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is the best-known tool in the motion graphics landscape. It’s a powerful program that most motion graphic designers use to achieve the stunning visuals you see on screens. Among other things, After Effects can be used for keying, tracking, compositing, and animation.

It is part of Adobe’s Creative Suite and can be used seamlessly with Premier, to add more animation than that tool can do on its own.

However, it has a steep learning curve and you have to go through many tutorials before you are able to use them with proficiency. The efforts will definitely pay off when you are able to design your videos with high quality and precision.

Conclusion

If you are strapped for time, OFFEO is your secret tool. Simply switch out the stock images in our templates with your desired image and you’re good to go! Take a look at our tutorial on Geniemate if you’re keen.

Written By
OFFEO Team

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