Motion graphic design

Motion Design is a subset of graphic design in that it uses graphic design principles in a filmmaking or video production context (or other temporally evolving visual medium) through the use of animation or filmic techniques. Examples include the kinetic typography and graphics you see as the titles for a film, or opening sequences for television or the spinning, web-based animations, three-dimensional station identification logo for a television channel. Although this art form has been around for decades, it has taken quantum leaps forward in recent years in terms of technical sophistication.

Technology

The elevation of this art form is largely due to technology improvements. Computer programs for the film and video industry have become vastly more powerful and more available. One of the leading program used by motion graphic designers is Adobe After Effects, which allows them to create and modify graphics over time. Adobe After Effects is sometimes referred to as "Photoshop for film." A relatively recent product in the market is Apple Inc. Motion, now a part of Final Cut Studio. Adobe Flash is widely used to create motion design for the web.

A typical motion designer is a person trained in traditional graphic design who has learned to integrate the elements of time, sound and space into his/her existing skill-set of design knowledge. Motion designers can also come from filmmaking or animation backgrounds.

Notable motion designers

• Saul Bass
• Kyle Cooper
• Maurice Binder
• Pablo Ferro

Motion design & digital compositing software packages

Since motion design is created using images and video sequences, a necessary tool is a software package. Such packages can generate images or video sequences with an alpha channel, which stores all the transparency information.

Motion Design applications include:

• Adobe After Effects
• Autodesk Combustion
• CineFX
• Apple Motion/Shake
• Max/MSP
• Apple Quartz Composer
• Various VJ Programs
• Smith Micro Software Anime Studio
• Adobe Flash

Open source motion design applications:

• Synfig Studio

3D Programs used in motion graphics include:

• Modo 3D Luxology
• Maxon Cinema 4D
• Softimage XSI
• Autodesk 3d studio max
• Autodesk Maya
• NewTek Lightwave
• e-on Vue Infinite
• The Blender Foundation Blender
• EI Technology Group Electric Image Animation System

Motion graphics plugins include:

• Magic bullet
• Trapcode

See also

• Film title design
• Motion graphics