Motion Graphics
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- HomeCreative
Ok past 10 years being a 2D designer has took its toll and I really want to start learning Motion graphics.
From this sort of stuff ....
all the way to this...
Question is, how do you start....or most importantly what packages do I need to learn?
Be nice.
- inv0
after effects or motion?
- lukus_W0
What job do you want to do and where do you want to work?
- No job really as have my own studio. But really want to branch outHomeCreative
- I think motion graphics is a very large field - I'd suggest you have some specific aims in mind.lukus_W
- wordsarepictures0
For the 3D stuff get a copy of Cinema 4D and Mograph if you can afford it - slightly older versions like release 9 or 10 will be fine. I learnt the very basics in a week or so and built from there. Also check this guy for tutorials: http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog…
After you know the basics you can take your work into AfterEffects and tart it up.
Baby steps though. It's a big jump from the page to the 3 dimensional, I really struggled at first. If Adobe created a good alternative to C4D they'd be laughing, the interface differences are what stops most people getting into it.
Good luck!
- GeorgesII0
I'd start with A.E, for me it has been the easiest to learn with the fastest learning curve if you understand photoshop,
- HomeCreative0
Cool. Thought it would be AE and a combination of 3D packages.
Cost isnt really an issue on the packages, just wanted to make sure I was going in the right direction.
- inv0
If you are really hardcore like me ;) ...you can write it in code. Take a look at this example done with the processing program language ;)
- Whoa nice, Do you just see the world in 0 & 1'sHomeCreative
- 1inv
- Feel like it'
s going to end with a google wave logo... ; )ideaist - Yeah, they totally ripped me off ;)inv
- ideaist0
This reel sold me on the dynamics and true power of motion graphics -> http://justinharder.la/work/5//2…
Mr. Justin Harder killed it like 7 years ago...
; )
- twokids0
I would start with AE. Go to Lynda.com and pay for a month and immerse yourself in tutorials. Learn about motion, keyframing, etc. The 3D space in AE is a good basic way to start to understand 3D.
Only after you get really pretty competent at AE would I get in 3D. 3D is a huge commitment. Lots of people get by in Motion Design doing AE only and you can do a lot of serious work with that alone.
But if you still want to get into 3D, take a breath and know that you need total commitment to it, months before you really even get reasonably competent. I recommend Blender because it is free, but there are a lot of pretty good choices if you have enough money to pay. Designers that are used to Adobe products tend to like C4D, but Maya, Max, Lightwave, Modo, Softimage, all have their advocates. And all do pretty much the same thing with different interfaces. But the principles are the same.
good luck.
- Sound advice on QBN?! What a day this is! ; )ideaist
- I think this could be the 1st QBN insult free post!?!?!HomeCreative
- bored2death0
And don't forget to pick out a hip song for your reel... without that song, you're wasting your time.
- HomeCreative0
Sound advice guys. I'll pick up a copy of AE today. Will post back my crappy 1st attempt* soon so you can all have a good laugh.
*with banging sound track!
- harlequino0
All the practical software stuff up there is all pretty right on^
But also don't get overly glued to the apps and the machine. Spend some time studying cinematagraphy, camera blocking, and lighting. These concepts are the basis for all this jazz. Action and sci-fi movies are great for this since the motion aspect translates most immediately.
Also do some studying of storytelling and editing. Having a solid grasp of story arcs and pacing is key.
I recommend "Story" by Bob McKee if you really want to explore story structure. And "In the Blink of an Eye" for some editing philosophy.
It's all well and good to be able to make shit fly around, but if it doesn't mean anything then who wants to watch it.
Best of luck, it's loads of fun!
- dMullins0
You need to start with the basics. Pick up AE CS4 and start making shit. Doing tutorials are great, but I've found it to be overwhelming to learn all this shit you are not using. Shoot some footage, concept some ideas, and start creating. It's all practice and learning from there.
- GeorgesII0
for A.E, Video copilot is a very good place to find tutorials,
I used to like creative cow before it becames hyper confusing,
you can still find some gemms in it thoughg
- Douglas0
Video Copilot is great place to get off to a bad start in making work that looks like it came out of After Effects or C4d. Focus on your ideas and your designs. Really nail those down. Otherwise you're going to end up with nasty motion graphics like the videos above. I'd suggest paying a lot of attention to strong editorial work and cinematography as well. You can animate lots of different ways, but very true that AE and C4d (w/Mograph) are good starting points, and then moving onto Maya if you start to fall in love with 3d. Final Cut is also a great something to be familiar with. I wouldn't bother with Motion though.
- try to only use plugins when absolutely appropriate.Douglas
- BIGGESTDOGINTHEWORLD0
_
/\ Yeah good advice, just search for after effects on youtube and you'll see how many people just learn a few tricks off VC and don't actually learn any real motion graphics skills.
- harlequino0
VideoCopilot keeps coming up - do bear in mind that guy and his site are really geared towards visual effects first and foremost. It even says so in the header graphic on the site. And there are some real differences between vfx work and fundamental animation and mograph concepts.
But then again, JJ Abrams hired him to do the title sequences for both "Fringe" and "Star Trek," so he does have his game down.
I'd echo to try and stay away from plugins, at least getting started. With CS4 there's very little you can't do in the native AE app.
However, that said, Trapcode's Form and Particular plugins are kind of industry standard at this point for creating particle systems. They are both very versatile, so when you do get into extensions, those are both money in the bank.
- M_C_P0
if you've 10 years in the 2d game, i'd say you've already done most of your homework. most of the sites listed are great compliments to the included manuals/help files. while they'll teach you the buttons/functions of an app, they aren't going to teach you design.
take your 2d work and start keyframing.
take that first piece and retro engineer it.
learn your tools thru trial and error.
experiment.
fail.
then do it again.