Unit 4 | Motion Graphics

Students will be able to apply the basic elements and principles of design while making motion graphics. Students will learn the fundamentals of Adobe AfterEffects.

Unit Overview

Driving Question How can graphics set the tone for a piece of video work?
Learning Goals
  • Understand how to design for screens and phones
  • Apply principles of art and design to graphics for video.
  • Reflect on the filmmaking process and justify artistic choices.
Project Summary Students will create a graphics package for a YouTube Channel

Major Product & Assessment

Major Products Animated Intro Graphic, Lower-Thirds, Titles, Captions, Project Reflection, Portfolio Page
Making it Public
  • Students will present their video to the class
  • Work will be published to Design Portfolio Website
Key Project Documents General Rubric for Individual Projects

Vocabulary

Keyframe
A frame that defines the starting or ending point of a smooth transition or movement in an animation.
Ease (Easing)
Controlling the speed of an animation as it starts (ease-in) or stops (ease-out) to make movement look more natural and smooth.
Composition (Comp)
The container or workspace where all your layers, effects, and animation come together (often used in software like After Effects).
Layer
A single element (like text, an image, or video) in a composition that can be animated and manipulated independently.
Anchor Point
The point around which all transformations (scaling, rotation, position) of a layer occur.
Compositing
The process of combining multiple visual elements (videos, images, graphics) into a single, cohesive scene.
Mask
A path used to selectively cut out or hide parts of a layer, controlling what is visible.
Mattes/Track Mattes
Using the luminance or alpha channel of one layer to define the transparency or shape of another layer.
Alpha Channel
A component of a pixel that defines the opacity or transparency of an image or layer.
Luminance
The brightness of a color or light.

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