The Art Institute of California—San Francisco
Course Syllabus
Course number: MA2241
Course Title: Motion Graphics
Class Meetings: Fridays, 6pm - 10pm, Room 411
Session/Year: Summer 2012
Instructor Name: Greg Lemon
Email Address: greg.lemon@gmail.com
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: email for info
Motion Graphics
Course Description:
This course will explore the use of motion graphics as a commercial communication medium and technical compositing tool. Studies will include the development of visual concepts, design, and execution of a final presentation(s). Technical skills utilized will include compositing techniques, typography, animation, and design.
Course Length: 11 Weeks
Contact Hours: 44 Hours
Lecture: 22 Hours
Lab: 22 Hours
Credit Values: 3 Credits
Course Competencies:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Analyze the features of nonlinear editing and compositing software.
Define non-linear editing and compositing terminology.
Use nonlinear editing and compositing software.
Apply principles of storytelling and continuity as it pertains to non-linear editing and compositing.
Outline non-linear video design from concept to final production.
Recommended but not required reading:
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Volume 1: The Essentials (3rd Edition, Version 6.5). Meyer, Trish; CMP Books, 2002. ISBN: 1578202493.
Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Volume 2: Advanced Techniques (3rd Edition, Version 6.5). Meyer, Trish; CMP Books, 2005. ISBN: 1578202698
Motion Graphic Design & Fine Art Animation. Krasner, Jon; Focal Press, 2004. ISBN: 0-240-80482-1.
Materials and Supplies:
Handouts, Online Help, Textbook, CDs, note-taking materials, others as needed
Method of Instruction: Lecture and Lab
Estimated Homework Hours: 4
Technology Needed:
Hardware: Windows or Macintosh computer
Software: Adobe After Effects 7.0 Professional
Grading Scale:
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):
A 100-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-65
F 64 or below
Process for Evaluation:
Attendance and Participation - 10%
Project 1 - Channel Identity - 20%
Project 2 - Commercial / PSA - 30%
Project 3 - Title Sequence - 40%
Project grading breakdown:
Concept/idea: 25%
Aesthetic choices: 25%
Technical execution: 25%
Delivery format/resolution: 25%
All video files should be submitted as follows:
Format: .h264 with appropriate compression.
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:
Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
Grading will be done on a point system.
Points for individual activities will be announced.
All work must be received by the set deadlines.
ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.
Classroom Policy:
No food allowed in class or lab at any time. Drinks in sealable bottles allowed in classroom.
Edible items brought to class or lab must be thrown out.
If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.
Attendance is taken hourly. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
No software games are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
Headphones are required if listening to music during lab. No headphones are allowed in lecture.
Any student who has special needs that may affect his or her performance in this class is asked to identify his/her needs to the instructor in private by the end of the first day of class. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.
Disability Policy Statement:
It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 415-276-1060.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or networks.
Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF’s standards of academic honesty will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.
Projects:
Channel OR Website Identification Piece – Due start of class Week 4.
0:10 second minimum with sound.
20% of final grade.
Create a 0:10 second channel ident piece for an existing or fictional television channel or website of your choice. Grading will focus on aesthetic direction and technical achievement. Work should be rendered @ a resolution of HD 720 (1280 x 720) and submitted via .H264 movie file.
Commercial OR PSA – Due start of class Week 7.
0:20 second minimum with sound.
30% of final grade.
Create a 0:20 second commercial for an existing or fictional product or PSA campaign. Grading will focus on aesthetic direction, sound/animation relationships and technical achievement. Work should be rendered @ a resolution of HD 720 (1280 x 720) and submitted via .H264 movie file.
Title Sequence – Due start of class Week 11.
0:30 second minimum with sound.
40% of final grade.
Create a 0:30 title sequence for a movie/tv show/videogame of your choice. Grading will focus on aesthetic direction, mood/pace development and technical achievement. Work should be rendered @ a resolution of HD 720 (1280 x 720) and submitted via .H264 movie file.
Suggested Course Outline
WEEK 1
Lecture: AfterEffects overview
File management. Projects, compositions, etc.
Animation + Effects (color corrects, blurs).
Solids, text tool. Type tool. Grunge maps + free silouettes. Layer blending modes.
Lab: Practice new techniques, create rough storyboards for channel identification piece.
Homework: Animatic for channel identification project.
WEEK 2 - PROJECT 1 - ANIMATIC DUE
Dailies: Project 1 animatic critiques.
Lecture: Paths and Masking, pen tool, animating masks, text on paths, paths as keyframes, animating strokes and paths. Turning text into masks. Pre-comping and parenting, making characters.
Lab: Practice new techniques, finish project 1.
Homework: project 1 first pass animation.
WEEK 3 - PROJECT 1 - 1st PASS DUE
Dailies: Project 1 first pass critiques.
Lecture: Animate text parameters, text animations in Adobe Bridge Ramps, noise and fractals, distortion effects. Track mattes, color keying, layer styles.
Lab: Practice new techniques, work on storyboards for project 2.
Homework: Final animation for project 1.
WEEK 4 - PROJECT 1 - FINAL PASS DUE
Dailies: Project 1 final submission critiques.
Lecture: Track Mattes, audio to keyframes, video motion tracking, video time warping, distort effects.
Lab: Practice new techniques, work on project 2.
Homework: Animatic for project 2.
WEEK 5- PROJECT 2 - ANIMATIC DUE
Dailies: Project 2 animatic critique
Lecture: Particle systems and simulation tools. Particles + blurs and color correction.
Lab: Practice new techniques, work on project 2.
Homework: First pass animation for project 2.
WEEK 6- PROJECT 2 - 1st PASS DUE
Dailies: Project 2 1st pass critique
Lecture: 3D in After FX. 3D cameras and layers. Importing 3d text from photoshop. Expressions and advanced animation tools. Wiggly text,
wiggler expressions. Title sequences that rule.
Lab: Practice new techniques, dev ideas/storyboards for project 3.
Homework: animatic for project 3.
WEEK 7 - PROJECT 2 FINAL PASS DUE
Dailies: Project 2 final pass critique
Lecture: Advanced particle effects, advanced color correction and lighting tools.
Lab: Practice new techniques, work on animatic revisions.
Homework: animatic for final project.
WEEK 8 - PROJECT 3 - ANIMATIC DUE
Dailies: review Project 3 animatics
Lecture: Advanced fx using layered transparency
Lines and shapes in 3d
Expression controls and index values
Lab: Practice new techniques
Homework: 1st pass for final project.
WEEK 9 - NO CLASS FOR MA2241 section B (Monday evening)
Dailies: review Project 3 1st pass
Lecture: review 1st pass. advanced fx using layered transparency
Lines and shapes in 3d
Expression controls and index values
Lab: Practice new techniques
Homework: work on final project.
WEEK 10 - PROJECT 3 - 1st/2nd PASS DUE
Dailies: Project 3 1st/2nd pass critiques.
Lecture: Review of final project 1st pass
Lab: Time to work on Final Project
Reading: CMG, vol 2, chapter 30
Homework: finish final project
WEEK 11: FINAL PROJECT DUE
Lecture: Critique projects, enjoy your break!
Schedule subject to change based on class need.
