Software: Tools of the Trade
After Effects (2D Motion Graphics Animation): A professional software program used to create and composite visual effects, motion graphics, and animations for video, film, games, and social media. It operates on a layer-based system, similar to Photoshop, but adds animation and a timeline to bring static images and video to life. After Effects is an industry-standard tool for tasks like keying, tracking, text animation, and creating complex visual effects that are often seen in professional productions.
Blender (3D Animation & Modeling): A free, open-source, all-in-one 3D creation suite used for modeling, animation, sculpting, rendering, video editing, VFX, and even game development. It provides a comprehensive set of professional tools for creating 3D art, from initial concept to final output, supporting the entire 3D production pipeline within a single application. I have experimented with Blender off and on since the early days of the software. However, it has become a robust, powerful tool that is competing with other industry standard software such as Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D, etc.
Dragonframe (Stop Motion Animation): This is the industry standard for stop motion animation software. It controls a digital camera and additional hardware can be added for controlling camera movement and lighting. The software allows the animator to combine individual photos into a sequence of animated frames. Several individual frames can be overlaid and viewed at the same time in order to determine the next animation movement. These sequences of frames can be previewed directly in the software. * I currently don’t know how to do this yet. However, I do have the software and I look forward to learning and creating my first projects. I’m excited about the possibilities.
Photoshop (Graphics & Photo Compositing): The industry-standard photo editing software for manipulating, retouching, and transforming pixel-based images and graphics. It offers a wide range of tools for tasks such as color correction, removing unwanted objects, compositing multiple images, and creating original digital art, making it indispensable for photographers, designers, and digital artists.
Lightroom (Photography): is an image organization and editing application Nondestructive edits, sliders & filters to bring out the best in your photos and provides tools to import, view, organize, tag, edit, and export large numbers of digital images.
Inkscape (Graphic Design): A free, open-source, vector graphics editor used to create and edit images like logos, illustrations, and charts, which can be scaled to any size without losing quality. It’s similar to the paid software Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as its native format, allowing for high-quality output for print and web use, and it can also open and edit various other file types.
Pre-Production: The Creative Process
IDEA
Every vision starts with an idea and that idea comes from you. That idea will be the seed that will grow into your vision. Ideas can be as simple as a word, a photo or more complex such a as a quote, a story.
BRAINSTORM
We will brainstorm together to further develop your idea by completing a creative brief in order to better understand your vision so that your idea comes to life.
PUZZLE
Like any good puzzle, there are a lot of moving parts. This is where we bring all the different pieces together such as any artwork, documents, etc. you have as well as any additional research on our behalf to fill in any of the missing pieces.
Production: The Animation Process
DESIGN
Design is the broad, creative process that includes defining goals, creating visual elements like colors and typography, and developing the overall concept; essentially the “what and why”.
LAYOUT
The layout process is the specific, functional arrangement of those elements (text, images, etc.) on a page or screen to guide the viewer and to create a clear, organized structure; the “how and where” the elements are placed.
ANIMATION
Motion graphics is an animation process that brings graphic elements like text, shapes, and images to life through movement, often combined with sound and visual storytelling, to inanimate graphic design elements in order to convey information, create engaging content, and enhance communication.
Post-Production: The Compositing Process
VFX
Visual Effects (VFX) is a compositing process to combine multiple visual elements such as adding video, masking, applying color correction, etc. to create a single, integrated visual scene in order to achieve a cohesive final result.
SFX
Sound Effects (SFX) is a compositing process of combining multiple audio elements such as music, sound effects, voice overs, etc. to create a single, integrated composition in order to achieve a cohesive final result.
EXPORT
Exporting the final animation in the proper format is a process based on your specifications. This includes aspect ratio, frame rate, etc.
What’s your idea?: Turn your vision into reality!