Are you trying to boost your motion graphics?
If you are a creative professional, for instance, there is a high likelihood that you might one day be engrossed in the work of stunning motion graphics that has captured your imagination. It is like a sleight of hand for the eyes rather graphics in motion manipulate themselves, change into something and interact with other images thus giving life to the still image.
So what are drawing the boundaries for motion graphics? They combine graphic design with animation. In simple terms, they are animated graphic images, videos, and photographs that tell a story or impart a message. More motion picture reproductions are in advertisements, social posts, educational programs, and websites. It enhances visual storytelling making it more robust because of its many uses.
Implementing selecting motion graphics is very crucial and should be done correctly it cannot be emphasized enough. In this day and age attention needs to be captured quickly as notions and perceptions are formed in the blink of an eye. Using motion graphics constructs enables us to create more interactive plethora of content that ensures to differentiate oneself from everyone else. They aid in the translation of difficult concepts into ideas and scenarios that the target audience can comprehend easily.
Motion graphics are a concept that many people are unfamiliar with, yet they are a significant part of contemporary graphics production. In this article, we will define what motion graphics are, their distinctions with animation, their application in modern design, and the advantages they offer in telling a story. We’ll also show you projects that have successfully used motion graphics. So, let’s begin!
What Are Motion Graphics?
Let’s slow down. Motion graphics are somewhere in the middle between traditional animation and something else, but it’s not really the same thing as cartooning. Cartooning is outlining a story through a set of amalgamated images which are played consecutively (think of your average Disney movie), and motion graphics are about moving gfx elements and text around the place or on top of other things. They tend to be more abstract, which is useful to show some information instead of talking.
Today in design, they are part of the elements used to express concepts through motion graphics. They can be seen everywhere today, in adverts, explainer videos, and even in short video applications such as Instagram and TikTok. They have a knack of being straight to the point, and being able to say what the message is on the go, so both marketers and content creators love using them.
Advantages of Motion Graphics
Let’s now take some time and discuss the very reason that you want to think about including movement to your graphics. First things first, they tend to add value on storytelling by a big margin. Think of a video that has just texts that don’t move, to a completely animated video that has texts. The second example not only attracts people’s eyes to it but such type of content is also quite unforgettable.
For example we had prepared a video to compliment the message of a social impact local organization. We decided that instead of a standard ‘talking head’ style video, we would prepare Motion Graphics video. When we telling working to highlight the family with the victims we did animated statistics on how many people that we have helped. There was a great reaction. Not only were people interested; they even shared the video and it became a hit in the area.
Besides the abovementioned, it is also interesting how motion graphics affect the audience. It has been found that an image can be recognized faster than any letters, and with the addition of movement, it becomes more effective. It can trigger emotions, drive motivation, and even serve as simple entertainment. In case the audience notices move, they tend to be more interested and constantly thinking about the information being given.
So, if you’re still undecided about whether to implement motion graphics, then the answer should be a resounding YES because it’s a technique that is evolving actively and has incredible benefits for optimising your marketing message. No matter if you want to make a more impressive online advertisement, embed an interesting video in your presentation, or enhance your portfolio, learning how to use motion graphics will help you face competition with ease.
How To Use Motion Graphics In Your Designs
Step 1: Establish A Goal
As with any project, determining your goals is the key first step when working with motion graphics. The reasoning should be evident as it has to do with understanding the production behind the project, for example, how the vision is to be communicated to collaborators or clients. However, reflecting on this even slightly would underline the importance of clarity in goals.
Assume that you are to make a promotional clip to advertise the launch of a new product. If your goal is poorly defined such as “make it look nice,” the end result might be well painted piece, but fails to make an emphasis on the products main features and advantages. However, as previously mentioned, there is an argument for stating such goals as being more specific, for instance “the animation should show three benefits of the product in 30 seconds”.
I remember working on a video project for a local bakery that wanted to showcase their new seasonal menu. From the start, the team had a specific problem in showcasing their goodies and were unable to explain what they wanted. After the brainstorming session, we narrowed it down: to showcase the most fresh and handcrafted ingredients. With this in mind we were able to come up with hot visuals which were good to look at and told a story. The outcome? A video that was in the market and resulted in an increase in the footfalls.
Step 2: Choose the Right Tools
When setting out to come up with motion graphics, one needs to have the right tools that are in line with the objectives. The suitable software usually takes time to master and there are those that simply come with a lot of easy to comprehend features.
Most artists will tell you that Adobe After Effects is the software of choice for video editors and animators. Lightworks boasts multipurpose functions and the expertise for enabling slow-motion is also limitless.
Blender, on the other hand, is a fantastic choice for 3D graphics and animation. Plus it is totally free which is great for people who wish to get their feet wet.
If you’re still new to animation and would want to avoid After Effects or more advanced software just yet, don’t worry! Canva has introduced animation features that are more user-friendly and allow simplicity without the steep learning curve.
Choosing your tools as a beginner is more complex and requires a strategy. For example, when you’re starting out, picking After Effects as the first software might be overwhelming as it does have a lot of features to offer. In that case, it is wise to begin with something easier so that you can slowly build your confidence for more complex programs.
Step 3: Develop a Concept and Storyboard.
Now that you have the tools and the goal, you can start creating a storyboard and a comprehensible concept. It is important to have a clear plan beforehand, as it provides an understanding of the overall image and shapes the structure of the project.
In simple terms, a storyboard is a visual outline. It shows how your visuals are built sequentially, and makes sure that your objective is clear and is presented well. Make sure to not overlook this step as this finalizes all the details to be able to execute a strong final plan.
Here’s a simple template for creating a storyboard:
Title/Project Name: At the top, write the name of your project.
Scene Description: A description of the scene as to what happens in it breifly.
Visuals: Sketch or explain the visuals(graphics, text, or images) in greater detail.
Audio: Indicate the sound effects or music to be played alongside the visuals.
Timing: Provide the estimated duration for how long this particular scene would last.
While working with a marketing team, I was introduced to a client who was considering creating an informational video for one of the features of a product. Instead of diving directly into the production process, we invested time storyboarding, it helped us find narrative’s missing links which in return cut down on the time spent on animation. Most importantly, the video turned out to be interesting and was able to deliver the information about the feature seamlessly to the viewers.
Remove gaps in explanation: In Step 4, Start by explaining: turn in visuals that capture the viewer’s attention.
To brainstorm further, once we have identified our objectives of the video, let’s discuss step 4 in relation to moving forward. This is where your creatives can really let loose. A few key strategies are Knowing Color Theory and Understanding Typography.
Everything depends: practices, tools and even results. Theories of colors contribute to appealing to one’s emotions and effectively directing a person’s focus. For example, warm colors may incite excitement while cooler ones emit peacefulness. Be thoughtful in your design so it reflects your message.
The choice of fonts is just as critical – selecting the right type enhances and sometimes distracts from the visuals. For instance, a children’s brand can benefit from a fanciful font, whereas a contemporary tech product may do well with a simpler font type. As a general rule, however, animating text calls for improved legibility.
An ideal scenario for integrating behavior and appearance is modifying visuals with motion graphics transitions. Even certain visual aids, such as place and scene transitions, Slideshow project designs, photoshop transitions, transition diagrams and filters, determine how smoothly the various slides in the presentation interchange. Maintaining viewer interest can be achieved through the use of polished fades or slides.
Step 5: Animation Techniques
Let’s now focus on the animation side now that you have your visuals. To ensure that your animation appears fluid and natural, there are a few basic principles that you will need to learn.
One fundamental principle is ease policy, which describes a certain behaviour of an animation regarding acceleration and deceleration. Easing modifies the effect so that rather than moving at constant speed elements can move at an accelerating or decelerating pace instead. A classic example would certainly be a bouncing ball – it is propelled quickly at the beginning but at some point its forward movement is restrained. And so, as already noted, such movements allow for a more realistic portrayal of the animated project.
With practice, you may want to attempt more complex features. The more complex your visuals, the more effective layering multiple animations and using masks can be. Timing can also make elements more interesting, for example by offsetting when things appear.
Step 6: Exportation And Optimization
You now need to focus on the specifics and optimize your motion graphics for the desired platform. Each platform will specify what kinds of files it can use and what file sizes are acceptable. Social media, for instance, requires its videos to be shorter and smaller than those intended for presentation or website use.
After you select what to export, be sure to carefully select the settings during this time. For websites and social platforms MP4 or MOV are popular formats because they are acceptable quality with reasonable file weights.
Using these can help maintain quality and load times, which is very desirable: you do not want your audience to leave when watching your video simply due to wait times. You might want to consider some compression tools to make your files visually stunning while making the file shadow smaller.
As for the final advice, make a habit of previewing your graphics in the intended social media platforms or other usages. This makes it easier for the intended audience to connect to your graphics.
FAQs
Motion Graphics For Beginners, Which Software Is Best To Use?
Motion graphics hold history as an up and coming field within graphic design and a lot of individuals showcase interest in pursuing a career within the field as well. Here is a list of tools that can help beginners with motion graphics:
Canva: It is a great fit for individuals who are just beginning as it gives the user animation templates to create upon and gives the user a little taste of motion graphics while not giving them too many options to deal with.
Adobe Spark: If you want to pop your social media posts with animated graphics then this application should be your choice as it lets you make simple videos and animations with ease.
Animaker: You can create intriguing animations and videos without any design skills and expertise owing to this online platform’s drag and drop interface.
Blender: It might take a little more time due to it having a sharper learning curve, but the endless tutorials available leave no doubt on its effectiveness within creating 3d motion graphics. So if you want to experiment with graphics and are looking for software that is free Blender is the right fit for you!
After Effects: This is certainly the industry standard for professionals but it still isn’t bad for someone who is a beginner, it might require a little more patience and hard work but there is certainly no lack of tutorials for it.
I remember getting started with all of this. The endless options presented to me were so confusing and tough to be able to handle. I do remember going ahead with After Effects too. If I am being honest with all of you, the software was truly difficult to be able to understand. However, I believe I had endless opportunities. If I am being honest with myself, I do believe that I should have gotten started with Canva. That way, I would’ve been able to build my confidence before turning to any complex softwares.
How do I know the length of my Motion Graphics?
This is quite a common and age old question. The question being how long should motion graphics last for? Well depending on the platform that you are targeting, the ideal would vary. Here is a quick summary for your understanding:
Social Media: Getting into platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the length that one should stick to is ideally 15-30 seconds. Shorter videos are better. The instant focus grabs the users attention and it grabs users attention and pushes them to watch the rest of the video. For example think of Youtube Shorts, Instagram Reels or even TikTok videos, they all have short catchy animations!
Presentations: For business corporate meetings or educational videos, you are able to spend a little bit longer. Focus on a motivational message and a timeframe between 3 to 1 minutes. Ensure that the content shared is engaging and interesting and make sure to break the video down into sections.
Websites: You should use video that is not long more than say. 2 minutes max when making explainer videos or when designing landing pages. In these videos, you would be able to explain your message without the risk of losing any potential customers. In my experience, if I can get right to the point within a minute, it greatly increases the odds that I can avoid losing the majority of visitors.
As in my case, trial and error in this case in particular can give one answers to one’s greatest questions. For example, I remember how I made a promotional video for one local event and used a short thirty second teaser, instead of a two minute long edit. The thirty second clip shot the target audience appeal up through the roof.
Can I use stock footage in my motion graphics?
Then yes! Sticking to or searching for stock footage to add into your motion graphics works like magic however, as with every other technique, there are some advantages and disadvantages to suggest it believable.
Gains:
Saves Time: The task of creating your visuals from scratch is daunting and lengthy. Stock footage means you can get detailed and cinematic content without hurting your blood pressure especially as a newbie.
Professional Quality: On some stock sites there are incredible video clips available, which would improve the quality of your project without costing too much in the process.
Versatility: It’s possible to combine different pieces and tell a better story by doing that.
Disadvantages:
Same Concept: The overuse of stock videos may result in a generic feel. If the same clips are being used all over the place, your work is going to blend with everything.
Rights Management: Be certain to check if you are cleared to make use of the stock video footage the way you wish, be it personal or commercial hire.
While editing a marketing video for a tech startup, we had to use stock video clips when there was no original content available. But we mixed it with custom-made animations to keep the look and feel consistent. It all came together beautifully!
How do I include audio in my motion graphics?
Audio is a massive part of motion graphics and having the right sound with everything is so much more powerful. Here are some tips for choosing the right narratives and timing them with the animations you made:
Pick the Right Music: Remember the emotion you want to portray, is it a happy song, is it a sad one? Upbeat is fine, slow is also fine, there are a lot of music to pick and place from on platforms such as Epidemic Sound and Artlist.
Synchronizing Sound with Picture: When incorporating sounds to your motion graphics, try also to make sure the sounds coincide with the motion. For instance, if you have an important aspect of your animation then the sound should also coincide with such an aspect.
Sound Effects: Always remember that sound effects can be very important. They can enhance the perception of your animations. An example would be a swoosh for a transition or a chime when there is a pop-up. These sound effects are additional sources of engagement.
Test and Adjust: Always do not forget to check the audio levels while watching the video. Sometimes, you need to adjust the timing back and forth but have no mercy in raising the audio levels just to make the sound fit.
I remember how surprised I was the first time when I synchronized sound with a piece of a motion graphic. I was developing an animated explainer video and it was about to use audio for an animation. A pop sound was added and after the animation was over, the viewers felt so much more engaged. A simple few sound effects and your viewers feel something, any simple animation becomes an experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, motion still images or videos are great elements to add to your projects as they will make your audience more engaged in it. They can add elements of story telling, making difficult concepts easier to understand while helping to relay emotions to viewers.
Always remember to test out your own projects, I highly recommend that! Get your hands dirty in the program. Try different approaches. Above all, have some fun with it. Every endeavor, if it is a success or a learning moment, will assist you in maturing as a creator.
I’m more than keen to learn from your experiences as regards motion graphics! Which of the projects have you worked on. Comment and tell the things that inspire you, or what inspires you to do the things — in this way we encourage one another in this creative search!
