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Is anyone using Motion?
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[Shawn Miller] “Even 3D camera and object tracking is used in motion graphics projects now, projects that would have been considered VFX work 15 years ago.”
You could use a narrow definition based on the term “graphics”. If you are superimposing a graphic on the screen, and it’s “moving”… it’s a Motion Graphic. If you are just tracking a background on a green screen shot, or adding smoke, that is a visual effect. To me, motion graphics requires a graphics designer or at least “a graphic”. Everything else is a VFX.
I would say that tracking a 3D object that is “unnatural” such as 3D text over a moving landscape is considered motion graphics while tracking a 3D object that is supposed to look like it’s naturally part of the scene (e.g., a car that wasn’t originally there) is a VFX. The same skills and tools can be used to complete each task, but from the perspective of the audience, one is a moving graphic while the other is a visual effect meant to trick them into thinking that it is “real”.
To me it all depends on whether you are adding text and logos, or smoke and fire. If someone asked me to add a motion graphic my first questions would be to send me the graphic and describe the motion. 😉
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
[Walter Soyka] “Define “motion graphics.”
[Oliver Peters] “All manner of moving graphics or video. Low-level VFX. So, animatics, flying logos, heavy graphics-based composites, green screens, window inserts, simple multi-image composites, composites that require layering over several tracks or layers. IOW – the genre that is largely defined by AE.”
Personally, my primary use for Motion is what you might call mograph lite: the titling/identity work for integration in FCPX that Apple is pushing. Ae gets everything else that’s design-led or remotely close to mograph: the explainers, conference opens and elements, C4D composites, etc.
Although I used to be a heavy Motion user back in the v1/2/early-3 days, my Motion usage has dropped off considerably as I transitioned from editor to designer. Now I only use Motion a couple times a year, while I use Ae nearly every day.
Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn] -
[John Rofrano] “You could use a narrow definition based on the term “graphics”. If you are superimposing a graphic on the screen, and it’s “moving”… it’s a Motion Graphic..”
If I create a graphic that looks like a bird in flight, superimpose it on a background plate, and animate it to move across the screen, is it a motion graphic or a visual effect? 🙂
[John Rofrano] “If you are just tracking a background on a green screen shot, or adding smoke, that is a visual effect.”
What about the moving graphics which were superimposed over an object tracked Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man, were those motion graphics or VFX shots? What if I design a shot where a moving logo catches fire and goes up in a puff of photorealistic smoke… would that be VFX or motion graphics… how about a photorealistic splash of CG water, washing over a dirty kitchen counter to reveal a shiny, clean logo? What if my intent is to have some graphics look real in a shot but not others…:-)
[John Rofrano] “To me, motion graphics requires a graphics designer or at least “a graphic”. Everything else is a VFX.”
There are a lot of VFX artists who are also graphic designers, and a lot of VFX shots require the creation of some sort of graphic element… where does that leave us? 🙂
[John Rofrano] “I would say that tracking a 3D object that is “unnatural” such as 3D text over a moving landscape is considered motion graphics while tracking a 3D object that is supposed to look like it’s naturally part of the scene (e.g., a car that wasn’t originally there) is a VFX. The same skills and tools can be used to complete each task, but from the perspective of the audience, one is a moving graphic while the other is a visual effect meant to trick them into thinking that it is “real”.”
I agree with this to a point – but I also think there are a lot of instances where there’s enough cross over, that it might be tougher to classify a shot as one thing or the other. The opening sequences from Entourage, Person of Interest and Pacific Rim come to mind. 🙂
Shawn
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[Shawn Miller] “If I create a graphic that looks like a bird in flight, superimpose it on a background plate, and animate it to move across the screen, is it a motion graphic or a visual effect? :-)”
I guess it would depend on if the bird was a laden or unladen swallow and if it was of African or European descent? 😉
My take is: If the bird looks real it’s a visual effect… if it looks fake it’s a motion graphic. lol
…but I get your point.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
[John Rofrano] “I guess it would depend on if the bird was a laden or unladen swallow and if it was of African or European descent? 😉
My take is: If the bird looks real it’s a visual effect… if it looks fake it’s a motion graphic. lol”
Fair enough. 🙂
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I’ve used it nearly exclusively since it was first released. Granted, most of the work was very simple titling, but my use has expanded. I now teach a high school level class how to use Motion, and don’t even touch AE.
Winston A. Cely
Editor/Owner | Della St. Media, LLC17″ MacBook Pro | 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7
4 GB RAM | Final Cut Studio 3 | FCPX | Motion 5 | Compressor 4“If you can talk brilliantly enough about a subject, you can create the consoling illusion it has been mastered.” – Stanley Kubrick
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[John Rofrano] “Affinity sure has come up with some very good competition to Photoshop and Illustrator with Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer”
+1!
I also have them both, am amazed at the overall performance and glad that I could finally ban both PS and Illu from my machine thanks to them. Whether they reach “critical mass” is fairly irrelevant for me, since the exchange with the “real” apps has been flawless so far. Both in and out. But they aren’t a major part of my core business either, as I would assume is the same for the VAST majority of people in this business.
– RK
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Deutsch? Hier gibt es ein umfassendes FCP X Training für dich! -
[Oliver Peters] “All Mac-only applications are going to have difficulty achieving critical mass.”
https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/windows/
– RK
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Deutsch? Hier gibt es ein umfassendes FCP X Training für dich! -
[Robin S. Kurz] “https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/windows/“
The plot thickens!!! 😀
(I love it when a plan to crush the dominant player that is abusing their power comes together…) lol
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
I am considering to buy Motion but when checking the price I get upset as the price is now $79.99 in the app store. Did they upgrade the price when releasing the new version (5.2.3)?
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