Motion Graphics & Compositing: Final Project
4/12/2024 - 7/1/2025 (Week 10 - Week 16)
Seh Zi Qi/ 0355872/ Bachelor of Design(Honours) in Creative Media
Module Name: Motion Graphics & Compositing
Final Project
LIST
Final Project: Abstract Motion Graphics
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FINAL PROJECT: ABSTRACT MOTION GRAPHICS
"1. Students will synthesis the knowledge gained in task 1, 2 and 3
for application in task 4. Students are to create an theme
based abstract motion graphic video that consist a good audio
visual say it in 3D/2D, mix media or any experimental visual output that has strong
theme.
2. Students describe and reflect on their competencies within the
design studio context, supported by evidence."
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Progress
When I got this project, I had quite a few ideas and went onto Pinterest to
find inspiration. I've also written down the ideas in Canva for ease of use.
Idea 1: Chasing A Dream
- This idea was just me thinking of doing something similar to dreaming or exploring a dream. Maybe she follows a shooting star or a journey in an unfamiliar land of fantasy and wonders.
- This idea was about a showcase of ingredients or different shapes that build into a meal and end with a person eating the finished meal. I felt that this would’ve suited Projects 2 & 3 better so I didn’t ideate further
Idea 3: A Clear Bubble
- The idea came from this specific pin where I wanted to follow through a story where everyone else is blurred besides the thing inside the bubble. It could represent a person’s willingness to venture further outwards and possibly express themselves which makes the bubble pop and everything clear. I didn’t have much besides that I didn’t continue with the ideation for this.
Final Project Moodboard Ideation by A.K. Jane
Fig 1.1, Mood Board Ideations Before Final, 15/12/2024
After some research and inspiration from videos I've seen before, I wanted to do something similar to Hopecore. There we a lot of memes that had the basic meaning of "anything can be hopeful as long as the editing style and music choice are inspirational."; I also remembered a senior doing something very similar so I wanted to try it out by actually making a genuinely inspirational video.
The video I found was by Markiplier, a famous YouTuber, and the title of the video is called Watch This Video When You're Feeling Down. I watched the entire thing and felt that the timestamps '4:23 - 4:41' & '5:27 - 5:53' were a good pick and went from there.
Youtube Link:
Fig 1.2, Watch This Video When You're Feeling Down by Markiplier, 16/12/2024
Everything else is said in detail within the Canva and the storyboard is has also been drawn within the slides as well.
Project Final Moodboard by A.K. Jane
Fig 1.3, Final Moodboard & Storyboard Ideation, 16/12/2024
I've also made an animatic to see if the audio and storyboard fit with what
I wanted to achieve.
Youtube Link:
Fig 1.3, Final Project Animatic. 16/12/2024
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Once I was done with everything in the ideation phase, I went ahead and started on with the project by downloading the full video, cutting up the needed timestamps in Premiere Pro, matching them up and putting it in After Effects for the actual edit.
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| Fig 2.1, Final Project Progression #1, 20/12/2024 |
Once I imported the cut video into After Effects, I used the Rotobrush tool to cut Markiplier out from the background. To achieve this, Double click on the specific video > Rotobrush > Select the video I want to crop out > Freeze (so the app doesn't take too much RAM) > Switch back to Composition view.
I kept the cutout Markiplier and original video to create depth without the hassle of switching backgrounds.
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| Fig 2.2, Final Project Progression #2, 21/12/2024 |
To achieve a drawn/ 2D animation look, I used effects like Posterize Time and Turbulent Displacement. Posterize Time decreases the frame rate of the video without actually changing the composition settings, while Turbulent Displacement makes the screen look warped like an animator drawing the same line but it'll always be different.
For the perfect settings, I've decreased the Posterize Time to 20 frames because 12 frames personally felt too slow for me while Turbulent Displacement 1 has Amount on 2 and Size on 100 and Turbulent Displacement 2 has Amount on 30 and Size on 2. To have a different warped effect, you can do Turbulent Displacement > Evolution > Alt + Click on Random Seed > Type our time*4.
Fig 2.3, Final Project Progression #3, 21/12/2024
To achieve the grainy shadow look, I had to make the MC first. Using the Shape & Pen tools, I made a side profile of the MC, and then I layer them by having the neck behind the head for the effects to ease later.
Now for the shadow, Draw a shadow using the Pen tool > Parent shadow to main object ('Neck Shadow' parents to 'Neck') > Add Set Matte effect & Select the main object in the 'Take Matte From layer' > Add Roughen Edges & put it above Set Matte > Change Scale to any number, I chose 10 > Increase borders to however big you like, I chose 150 > Add Levels Effect > Select Alpha in 'Channel' > Bring handles slightly inside to crush the colours
Fig 2.4, Final Project Progression #4, 27/12/2024
For scenes with lots of words and fast transitions, I decided to use the 3D Camera as an easy and smooth way to achieve that effect; For me, this is the easier alternative than having the layers attach to a null object as a parent since I can make more movement using the 3D Camera feature. Especially the "Through it" part where I wanted to zoom into the "Get" as an actual 'going through it' moment.
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| Fig 2.5, Final Project Progression #5, 3/1/2025 |
For certain scenes, I have graphics that have little to no words at all to create a fun visual narrative for the audience instead of just looking at kinetic typography and Markiplier's face 24/7. This helps to establish the audience that they can be the MC in the video where they watch the video, push through hardships and come out on top with their dreams.
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| Fig 2.6, Final Project Progression #6, 5/1/2025 |
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FINAL Abstract Motion
Link to the YouTube video:
Fig 3.1, Final Abstract Motion Project Video, 7/1/2024
Fig 3.2, Moodboard & Storyboard of Final Project, 7/1/2024
REFLECTION
In all of the 14 weeks I've endured, this module helped me to realise that
editing is a very hard job and that it's very time-consuming to do when you don't manage it right. Although editing is hard and tough, I felt that I improved a lot by attending the lectures and watching the provided videos that Mr Fauzi sent to us students; I was genuinely so happy to see my own improvement in editing during my final project that it shocked me where I was questioning if what I made was really made by me! Although my improvement was there, I still couldn't get my time management right so I will have to genuinely improve that in the future to not be behind on work again. What inspired me the most was seeing my classmates' works and the different videos of inspiration or tutorials I've found online, their works were truly motivating as I was able to see everyone's thought process and their ideas come to life just by using the taught skills learned and seeing professionals' works may be daunting but it also gave me a sense of hope that one day that I may be as good as that someday. Overall, I've learned that editing may not be an easy job but it sure is a fulfilling one; where ideas can come to life by simply moving a position or by transitioning from one scene to another smoothly.
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