Due Today: P1: concept brainstorming/ideation, thumbnail sketches, typeface exploration, & moodboard
For project 1, use type creatively through various typographic treatments such as manipulating the tracking or leading to create rhythm; changing the opacity, size, or weight to create contrast; distorting through pulling, pushing, or blurring; exploring outlines, layering, or using type as a texture. Keep placement and transitions consistent. Allow enough time for the viewer to read text.
For Today: Demo: Interface Review, Keyframe Basics, Shapes Layer vs Solid Layer, Single Compositions: Layers, Trimming, Splitting, Text Layers, Importing PSD vs AI (DemoFiles), assign Exercise 1
Demo Files: http://id2.cassreese.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/text.psd (copy and paste to URL bar if issues)
Exercise 1 – Due Tues 9.16
This is the first of 4 exercises in this course. Please review the requirements and rubric before beginning.
Exercise 1: Create a 5-10 second After Effects composition that animates a shape and personal mantra or quote. This exercise introduces basic animation techniques, file setup, and design principles. 1. File Setup and Management: - Create a composition in After Effects with a duration of 5-10 seconds and dimensions of 1920 x 1080 pixels. - Set up your project with a solid color background using a solid layer. - Save and manage your files properly, including organizing assets in your project folder. 2. Shape Creation and Animation: - Design a shape (e.g., circle, square, triangle) that symbolizes something personal to you. - Animate this shape to move across the screen, incorporating both rotation and position changes. The movement should be smooth and visually engaging. 3. Text and Importing: - Choose a personal mantra or quote that resonates with you. - Create a .psd file with your text, ensuring the text is spread across multiple layers. Import the .psd file into After Effects as a composition retaining layer sizes.(You can use Illustrator, just remember to export as a PSD) - Animate the text to convey the meaning or emotion behind the quote, ensuring it complements the movement of the shape. 4. Animation Techniques: - Focus on the choreography of your animation, considering how the shape and text move together over time. - Pay attention to timing, pacing, and how these elements contribute to the overall tone and message of your composition. 5. Formal Design Qualities: - Ensure your composition demonstrates strong visual design, including effective use of type, color, scale, and space. - Strive for balance, contrast, and a clear visual hierarchy that enhances the message of your personal mantra or quote. 6. Rendering and Submission: - Render your composition in H.264 format with the Vimeo 720 preset. Upload your final video to Vimeo and submit the link.
| Exercise #1: Personal Mantra in Motion | WEAK / MISSING | AVERAGE | GOOD | EXCEPTIONAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File Setup and Management: Composition between 5–10s; Dimensions 1920 x 1080; Vimeo Setup; Solid Layer setup | 0 | 2.25 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Shape: Shape represents a personal value or symbol; moves in rotation and position throughout the scene | 0 | 2.25 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Text: Personal mantra or quote imported from .psd file; Animation applied to motion text to convey meaning | 0 | 2.25 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Animation Techniques: Design demonstrates exploration of software skills, choreography of shape and text movement, rotation, or scaling over time; Consideration of pacing and emotion | 0 | 2.25 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Formal Design Qualities: Visual style; consideration of positive/negative forms within changing space; integration of personal theme with type, color, scale, and hierarchy | 0 | 2.25 | 2.5 | 3 |
Kinetic Type Resources
- Review Using Kinetic Type to Convey Emotion
- Review4 Approaches to Kinetic Typography
- Literal Illustration of Language (semantic significance)
- Rhythmic Embellishment of Language (temporal alignment)
- Personification of Language (typographic personality)
- Polymorphous Disruption of Language
- Inspiration: Kinetic Typography Channel
Today’s Kinetic Type Resources
- P1 3 Styleframes (1920px x 1080px): A single, STATIC frame that depicts the look and feel. Visual considerations coalesce with narrative, composition, and motion. All choices must be rooted in concept. Each styleframe should be a completely different visual direction and may pull from different conceptual directions. Using the same layout/composition, and simply changing the typeface will result in a grade deduction. Spend time creating three completely different visual directions, and avoid committing to “your favorite” too early on. Each direction should be strong. You will more than likely need to explore more than 3 visual directions to result in 3 strong directions. Consider breaking your design time into a minimum of two sessions (an initial sprint + a refinement session). Upload to the bottom of your Medium Process story you created last week. Post to a story “P1 Kinetic Typography” on Medium. How to post on Medium.
- Review/Read all of Today’s Resources
For Next Class
Due Next Thursday 9.11 – Exercise 1
