Motion Graphics short course

You’ll learn the fundamental concepts of creating dynamic motion graphics using Adobe After Effects covering everything from fonts, layers, textures, camera tracking, compositing, rotoscoping and expressions. We end the module with a set project where you’ll explore mid-century graphic design and create your own animation.  

Introduction to After Effects / The Basics

• Introduction to After Effects 
• Create Your First Animation 
• Exporting with After Effects and Media Encoder 
• Font Basics 
• Shape Layers 
• Using the Graph Editor 
• Looping Elements in After Effects 
• Keyframe Types and Interpolation 
• Folder Structure 
• 3D Layers and Cameras 
• Depth of Field and Lights in After Effects 
• Critical Thinking in Motion Design - Title Sequence Case Study 

Typography and Critical Thinking

• Animating Typefaces 
• Alpha and Luma Mattes 
• Layer Styles 
• Converting Text to Shapes or Masks 
• Textures 
• Interpreting Client Briefs 

• 12 Principles of Animation 
• Creating Moodboards and Pitch Decks 
• Generating Ideas in Motion Design 
• Text Animators 
• Save your own Animation Presets 
• Using Adobe Premiere and Adobe Audition for Audio 
• Adobe Live Link Workflow 

Mixed Media 

• Camera Tracking 
• Compositing 
• Rotoscoping with Roto Brush and Masks 
• Cel Animation in Photoshop 
• Mixed Media Techniques & Collage Style in After Effects 
• Expressions 
• Using Master Controls for Better Workflow 
• Improve your Speed and Confidence with Timed Animations 

Project

• Mid-century graphic design animation. Each student is given artwork from a well-known designer and tasked with creating an animation. 

In the second module you’ll start to really master After Effects, building on the first module and digging deeper. This module is focused on giving students a firm grounding in graphic design before they immerse themselves in animation. 

Design and Typography 

• Design principles 
• Typography 
• Logo design 
• Branding 
• Typography in motion - Animating Typefaces, Kinetic Type, Film Titles 

Timing is Everything 

• Isometric animation 
• 3D in After Effects 
• Looping GIFS 

Removing the Perfect 

• Ideas and Storytelling 
• Copywriting 
• Editing 
• Mixed Media 
• Camera Tracking 
• Cel Animation in Photoshop 

Industry and Pitching 

• Communicating with Clients / Colleagues 
• Industry Practices 
• Pitching 
• Audio Using Premiere / Audition 

Project 

• Working to an industry brief, you’ll work on a mini project from the pitch deck through to the final animation. The aim is to have a finished, polished animation you can use in your portfolio. 

In the third module we master 3D graphics, working with Cinema 4D to create animations and bring your designs to life.

Animation / Cloners + Generators 

• Cinema 4D  
• Animation: learn to animate a simple scene using keyframing, looping and dynamics 
• Mograph system: learn what cloners and generators are and how we use them in motion design 

Fields / Modelling 

• Fields: Learn how to control effectors and other objects using fields. 
• Modelling - Using primitives, generators and deformers to model basic shapes 
• Modelling - Edit Mode: learn how to manipulate points, edges and polys to edit and sculpt polygonal geometry 

Materials / Lighting 

• Materials 101: PBR, material types, reflectance channel. Megascans, bricks material, displacement 
• Materials 102: Apply materials to prims/meshes with UV wrapping, render tests and adjust render settings 
• Lighting: Learn the main light types, HDRI, 3-point studio lighting, plus common tricks like flags and gobos 
• Rendering: add camera animation and render a pre-supplied scene and/or text piece 

Grading 

• Learn how to composite rendered animation in AE, track mattes, plus cineware extraction 
• Continue After Effects for 3D - grading, FX and colour correction - AOVs and finalisation of image 

Project 

• Working to an industry brief, you’ll work on a mini project from the pitch deck through to the final animation. The aim is to have a finished, polished animation you can use in your portfolio.