Motion Graphics and Composition - Project 1

Film Studies and Cinematography
23.9.2024 - 5.11.2024
Johnny Lam Wee Zhe (0363436)
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

INSTRUCTIONS





PROJECT 1 - TECHNICAL AND MOTION GRAPHIC SENSIBILITIES

PART ONE

This is the very first project for my Motion Graphics and Composition module and it is a two part project. The first part of our task is to duplicate the animation to the sample of the videos given to us using basic knowledge of Adobe After Effects.The animation we will be duplicating are basic principles of form and design. These are:
1) Movements
2) Hierarchy
3) Balance
4) Direction
5) Symmetry
6) Focus
7) Scale
8) Rhythm

We are to duplicate each of the principles exactly as shown, with an exception of focus, rhythm, symmetry and scale according to our own understanding of the principle.

This is the video Mr. Fauzi sent:
 
Fig 1. Basic Principles of Form and Design

Here are how I pull off each of the basic principles:
 

Movement

I started off with two small squares in two corners; the upper left and the lower right. Using the scale stopwatch, I have them increase in size first.
 
Fig 2.1 Applying scale animation on squares
 
I once again uses scale but this time with the link uncheck so that the square will morphed into a triangular shape as the animation progresses.

Fig 2.2 Applying unequal scale to elongate the square

Then in the sport where the two elongated rectangles meet, I also added an additional other two squares on the other two corner and have it appear after the two elongated square meets in the corner using the scale to have it appear but because the shapes is white, it won't be noticeable in the final animation.

Hierarchy

Just like the previous animation, I also apply scale animation here but in addition to that, I also add a position animation to have the rectangle move. I start of with three squares on the side; two on the left and one on the right. I use the scale to have it elongate in shape while position are used to move the elongated square to the other side.

Fig 2.3 Apply position and scale animation to Hierarchy

Balance

For this a particular animation, I simply us the rotation stopwatch to animate the rectangle that is place on top of a rectangle.

Fig 2.4 Apply rotation animation to Balance

Direction

The principle to work on is direction. For this particular animation, I have done something a little different than the others. For this, I create triangles and arrange then in a 3 by 3 square pattern. Then, for each of the triangles, I apply a mask on them by right clicking. From there, I used the mask path stop watch to move the mask shape around and have it move to the side which cause the triangle to have a slide disappearance animation.

Fig 2.5 Apply mask onto the triangles in Direction

Symmetry

From this animation on wards, I have to create my own iteration of this principle base on what I know about the concept. This is a symmetry which from my understanding is that a design or a pattern are equal or the same on both sides of the design. For my design, I decide to go for a snowflake look after some experimentation. I start of with a two squares in the center, with the bigger square being white and a smaller black square in the center and both placed diagonally. Then on each side of the square, I add an additional smaller square which is accompanies by another much smaller square. These element will be reveals by masking and animate the size of mask. On the top and bottom corner, I add a diamond each and animate it using the rotation stopwatch to cause the diamond to spin and the position stop watch to ensure the diamond is place into position.

As each of the diamonds move passed the side (left and right), another diamond will appear. I simply apply the opacity stopwatch for this. In addition, I also per-compose parts of the pattern including the two center squares, the two squares of each side and the top-bottom diamond in order to apply similar animation to a group.

Fig 2.6 The center square in symmetry

Fig 2.7 Applying pre-com onto layers for applying grouped animation

Focus

The next principle to work on is the focus. From my own understanding, it is when a singular element of a design is animated but still in place with purpose of grabbing the viewer's attention. For this, I use a single pentagon. Then I use the scale stopwatch to animate the pentagon to create the illusion of it 'pumping'. Then I add another much bigger pentagon that appear outward in each pump using both the scale stopwatch and opacity stopwatch.

Fig 2.8 Applying scale animation on focus

Scale

In my understanding of scale, each element of the shape changes its own size while still maintaining a sense of balance. For this, I used a simple circle of three and start of with two smaller circle and big circle in between. I used both the scale stopwatch and the position stopwatch to pull off this animation.

Fig 2.9 Applying scale and stopwatch to the scale animation

Rhythm

Last but not least is the rhythm. In my own understanding of the rhythm, the design repeats and can be play for a long time without letting viewers know the ending and beginning of the animation while keeping in a predictable pace. For this one I decide to do something a lot more interesting. I'm going to have a bigger circle in the center while creating another smaller circle to the side. Using the mask, I made the smaller circle that passes into the bigger circle to show up as a black circle but turn back to white after it leave the bigger circle. The smaller circle than 'get behind' by not showing the black circle once it return. This give the illusion of  smaller circle orbiting the bigger circle.

I used both the opacity stopwatch and position stopwatch to animate rhythm.

Fig 2.10 Applying position and scale animation to Rhythm

Fig 2.11 Inserting a mask over the bigger circle

Once I am done with all of the forms and principles of motion graphics. I compile all of them into a singular frame.

Final Result

Fig 3. Project 1 Part 1

PART TWO

The next section of the project involves creating a series of animated composition using the previous animations made as the base and create an interesting composition. So I try to do some experiment. This is the first draft of the result.

Fig 4. First Draft

After finishing the composition, I show it Mr. Fauzi to show him my progress. I receive feedback that my animation is rather chaotic and seems random. He also suggested that include less element in a single frame so I tried again.

Once I have finished the second draft, I proceed by downloading the sound from this website:

https://pixabay.com/

Here are the raw sounds I have downloaded:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/139id9zD4_0qqFYWxSOMJSXn1KeNg8kwT?usp=sharing

Then I insert the draft into a video editing program and add in the sound effects.

Fig 5. Adding audio into the composition

Final Result

Fig 6. Project 1 Part 2



REFLECTION

There is another module from my first semester where I have used Adobe After Effect, Digital Photography and Imaging module. One of the project, we are require to use it to animate our self title. Considering that I have only use After Effect once and it's been a while since I use it, I have pretty forgot what I have learnt. Now that this module has the most focus on the usage in After Effects and all projects will revolve around this, this would help me remember how to use After Effect in the long run. I reckon there are also other features that I have yet to encounter in After Effect and I look forward to see what else I can do in this program.

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