Be sure to check out some tutorials on Cinema 4D. This program is available on the college computers and is powerful 3D software that can be integrated into AfterEffects.

Cinema 4D - Beginner

Cinema 4D - 3D Text

Cinema 4D - 3D Text

Cinema 4D - Quick Start Tuts

Cinema 4D - Scene Setup

Cinema 4D - Text Glow Animation

Cinema 4D - FAQ

Just be sure to get your work done for the next class. We will have our final presentation and critique at 7pm.

- Be sure to bring a DVD for burning your work.
- Organize your files on the network so it will be an easy process.
- Have your blogs updated as well.

Final Critique- And Prepare yourselves for the Final Project.

Put the final touches on the Team Project. This should be an ultimately awesome presentation after the project critique.


The final project is completely open other than it must be at least 30 seconds long and 1920 x 1080 in H.264 format. You must present your idea next week (August 1st).

Explore this site. Find 3 inspiration pieces to bring with you along with your ideas for the final project.
http://www.motiondesignlove.com

Remember to get started on your goals, potential employers and feedback for the individual sit-down session we will have August 1st. See the handout for further details.

Not just the Team Project...

With the infographics project under full steam, everyone is realizing how much effort it takes to bring something like this to reality, both in the collaboration of ideas as well as the collection of actual data...and making it all relevant. Remember to communicate with each other.

Here's a short clip of why this is important.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQbFX2QzbOI

Expressions

As we were shown, expressions can open up After Effects to some amazing (and essentially unlimited) possibilities if you are willing to crunch some code. 

Take a look at some of these expressions tutorials/articles and experiment with them. They can be a little difficult, but stick with it and accomplish a few of them. 

http://www.motionscript.com/#articles

(This one is the best starting point.)

http://www.motionscript.com/design-guide/toc.html 

Once you're past this you should check out Eran Sterns' Expressions vid

and

http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-64-Expression-1/1

http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE-Basics-65-Expression-2/1

You've had it easy the last two weeks, so get to work and watch these tutorials!

Photoshop 3D Layers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sor1ac-cp2M

PS 3D into AE http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/workflow/photoshop-3d-into-after-effects-workflow-day-1/

AE 3D Vanishing Point http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/3d_vanishing_point/

3D Mesh from Grayscale http://tv.adobe.com/watch/the-russell-brown-show/cs4-3d-mesh-from-grayscale/

3D Mesh from Grayscale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzSoI7pmYSc

Motion Tracking CS6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GW5QurwR7g

Motion Tracking CS6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcdBWAm0YTs

Create a Hologram http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/vfx/create-a-futuristic-floating-hologram-effect/

TEAM Project: US Population-Demo-InfoGraphics Timeline

Guidelines:

Develop an infographics motion piece as a class displaying statistics and information in an interesting manner using the design process and working together to acheive the final product. 

Duration: 2 minutes

Format: H.264 @ approximately 6.00 mbps

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Frame Rate: 29.97 fps

Timeline:

            11 July - Project outline finished by students, storyboards & tasks assigned.

            18 July - Regroup, present materials and work together

            25 July - Rough draft due. Progress critique

            1 Aug  - Critique

Grading Criteria:

10% - Communication

20% - Participation/Teamwork

10% - Leadership

10% - Followership

20% - Creativity

10% - Message

10% - Craftsmanship

10% - Timeliness

I will upload the storyboards by Friday. 

Project 1 CRITIQUE and other stuff to get ready for.

For Thursday June 27th, we'll be presenting your first project. Be sure to dress appropriately as if you are presenting this to an employer or in a professional setting. 

Presentations will begin at 5:30 pm sharp, so get here, have your files ready and be ready to go.

You will receive six critique forms...one for each student in the class. We will watch each video once, during which there will be no talking and no taking notes. We will view it one more time and the presenter will speak for no more than a minute justifying what they have presented. After this we will loop it again for five minutes and you will take notes on the respective students form and prepare for discussion.  

For Exercises, you also need to create at "Bounce" project. Watch some of the examples and come up with something creative to share at the end of class next week. 

http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/five-second-projects/bounce/ 

Here's another motion tracking exercise for assignment. 

http://www.projuice.org/tutorials/visuals/thought-bubble/

Any questions...email me!

Here's a few inspiration vids. Infographics will be happening in the next few weeks, so think about some cool stuff you might want to do. 

http://www.designer-daily.com/14-visually-stunning-animated-infographics-5698

http://www.videoinfographics.com

DESIGN - Thursday, June 13th

After discussing the elements and principles of design, hopefully everyone spends some time really thinking about their projects as well as how they can better demonstrate some truly well-designed motion graphics work.

Watch these tutorials and be prepared to do some exercises after we critique our drafts.

This is one of many 3D photo tutorials.

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/virtual_3d_photos/ Parenting objects/layers to another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0yfT3xy3V0 Create a simple run cycle for an animation using parenting.

http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/AE_Creating-Run-Cycle-1/1 Again, next week we will start out looking at whatever inspiration pieces you've found and review your tutorial. After that we'll dive into the 1st Draft presentation/Critique. Be sure to think about the design elements and principles when you present. Any questions, email me! Here's an example of the critique sheet. Critique Worksheet Name: Work:  First, identify characteristics pertaining to the Elements and Principles of design   The good Needs improvement Line   Form   Space   Value   Movement   Pattern   Texture       Balance   Contrast   Emphasis   Flow   Pattern/Repetition   Proportion   Unity/Conistency   Variety       Describe your initial response to the work (What emotion, what does it make you feel and why)             Describe the style, if any. Is it intentional?            Any other Comments

MOTION GRAPHICS II - For June 13

For next week (Thursday June 13th)

- Bring your Inspiration Motion Graphics (something that you like that involves motion graphics...from whatever source you find such as Youtube, Vimeo, etc.)

- Describe your tutorial video.

- Create your blog and post these videos on it.

- Watch these video tutorials.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmhuWNO_VZU	If 'h' is a chair
http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_on_3_ways_the_brain_creates_meaning.html	Creating Meaning
http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_matas.html	Next Gen Digital Books
http://aeportal.blogspot.com/2010/10/kinetic-typography-as-storytelling.html	Kinetic Type as Storytelling
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/creative-cow-after-effects-tutorials/text-trick-part-1/	Text Trick
http://www.johnbhartley.com/2011/kinetic-typography-after-effects-tutorial/	Kinetic Type Tutorial
http://www.crookedgremlins.com/09/01/2008/kinetic-typography-tutorial/	Kinetic Type Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qok9D-n_E9E	Kinetic Type Tutorial
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/creative-cow-after-effects-tutorials/text-trick-part-1/	Radio Waves
http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/AECS6-Extruded-Logos/1	Extruding Logo

Be sure to bring all of your required materials (you wont need the dvd's yet)


PROJECT 1 Storyboard and media (audio/video clips, imagery, etc.)

Here are some motion graphics that will hopefully get you pumped. Feel free to browse through the ones below as well.

Thursday May 2nd

Another week, another day...and it's time to do motion graphics. We'll take a look at everyone's storyboards and some inspiration to keep doing some killer work.



Ford - Thinking from Gravity on Vimeo.

Ford - Workday from Gravity on Vimeo.

April 25th 2013

Same drill this week, be ready with the following:

Inspirational Motion Graphics video
Tutorial of your choosing

Project 1 Proof. This should be 95% done, meaning there shouldnt be major changes, just tweaks.

Any questions, email me!

If you all have not seen or checked out FreddieW on YouTube, this is a MUST-SEE! Incredible example of how some creativity and combination of film and motion graphics can lead to some serious success.

http://www.youtube.com/user/freddiew?feature=watch

The following is ridiculously funny but also extremely well done. There are also many behind the scenes for a lot of these videos.

For March 28th

Same deal, get your exercise on your blog along with a resource and an inspirational motion graphics example. Remember...find something that is going to push yourself to do something you might not otherwise do.

Here's a couple to check out to get your creative juices flowin.

For this week, on your blog, post up your the following and be ready to show.

Completed exercise - upload to YouTube or the blog itself
Link/Embedded video of an After Effects resource or tutorial
Link/Embedded video of an inspiring video that relates somehow to motion graphics.

Any questions, shoot me an email!

Check below for some good links to get familiar with After Effects. We'll be doing some straight up tutorials to help you out on Thursday as well.

After Effects Introduction

Checkin out the interface for After Effects, if you're familiar with Illustrator and Photoshop, once you figure out where stuff is, it should come pretty easy. 

Some helpful info from Adobe.com
Workspace 

Managing Layers

A Couple Good resources to start off with:

creativecow.net
tutsplus.com
videocopilot.net

cgtextures.com

Starting out, we're going to get some inspiration. After Effects is the single most powerful tool Adobe has to offer, and if you become a master, your imagination is the only limit...no joke.

http://vimeo.com/50331054#

I hope everyone gets pumped...cause if you're not, you're in the wrong business...and this is just the beginning.

Course Syllabus

EIMA 2150-2A
Design For Motion Graphics II
Nathan Wetjen

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:
EIMA 2150 Calendar / Assignments /Summer Quarter 2013
This is the approximate schedule that must be maintained to complete all objectives of the course. It is subject to change.

Dates	week#
Thurs. June 6	1	Introductions Syllabus/Course Overview Lecture - Shape Characterization/Shape Layers/Text
Thurs. June 13	2	RadioWaves - 3D Text - Animate Extruded Logo
Thurs. June 20	3	3D Camera - Parenting
Thurs. June 27	4	Bounce - Motion Tracking
Independence Day		No Class
Thurs. July 11	5	Mocha - 3D Tracking - Work Day
Thurs. July 18	6	Audio to Keyframes
Thurs. July 25	7	Expressions
Thurs, Aug 1	8	Cinema 4D
Thurs, Aug 8	9	Work Day/Progress Critique
Thurs, Aug 8	10	Final Critique Day

Metropolitan Community College Course Syllabus –Summer Quarter 2013 Title: Design For Motion Graphics II Prefix/Section: EIMA 2150-2A Credit Hours: 4.5 DATE CLASS BEGINS: Thursday, June 6, 2013 DATE CLASS ENDS: Thursday, August 15, 2013 DATES CLASS DOES NOT MEET: NA Meeting Day/Time: Thurs. 530pm - 10:55 pm Last Day to Withdraw August 1, 2013 Delivery Type: Classroom Class Location: EVC Room 416 Lab Location: EVC Room 416 Course Web Address: http://omahamotiongraphic.blogspot.com  CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor Name:  Nathan Wetjen Office Location:  EVC Room 332 Office Telephone:  (402) 289-1369 Facsimile: (402) 289-1236 Office Hours:  n/a Email Address: nwetjen@mccneb.edu Faculty Web Site: n/a Academic Program Area: Languages and Visual Arts (Dean Tom McDonnell, 289-1306 COURSE INFORMATION COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students explore visual design concepts related to motion graphics. Adobe Photoshop and After Effects are the primary software used to compose still images, live-action video, and animation for television, film, and new media. This course provides the student with the necessary technical software applications to produce title sequences, station identification, key-frame animation, and info-graphics. PREREQUISITE or CO-REQUISITE: There are no prerequisites for this course. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Effectively communicate an idea using motion graphics 2. Understand the basic integration of After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator. 3. Create typographic title sequences. 4. Use design concepts in motion graphics. 5. Understand basic video formats and compression methods 6. Create a final portfolio of motion graphics in the form of a reel. REQUIRED/SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: - Portable storage device (you will need a compatible format to back up your work) - Blank DVD-R (2) for burning final Project reel to hand in. One to hand in, one to keep copy for yourself. - Headphones - Must have by second class. - One dedicated Notebook for sketching, thumbnails and notes. COURSE STRUCTURE This course is lab-based. It will consist of lectures, demonstrations and discussions, but learning is done primarily through hands on experience with the software used to complete projects that are visually and conceptually challenging. It will be necessary for students to work outside of class time to complete all coursework. COURSE ASSESSMENT TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS 1. Reading the User Guide, Tutorial, class handouts. 2. Constructing images through sketchbooks and software and peripherals. 3. Critiques. 4. Self-instigated visual and conceptual research Grading Policy Final Course Grades are determined by cumulative quarter work, attendance, and participation, as well as on Final Project Presentations and content. Class Exercises, Organization and Participation (20%) Each class period will be spent working on exercises designed to take the student through technical aspects of the software while encouraging the development of and understanding of creative problem-solving skills. Exercises will result in QuickTime movies which will be placed in the hand-in folder in the class folder on the network. Each exercise must be clearly named with student name, exercise number and .mov and placed in the HAND-IN folder. Exercise/assignments will be finished (to a degree) in time for critique and placed in QuickTime folder. After showing project and getting feedback from class and instructor, student may re-do the assignment and place it in the HAND-IN folder. Exercises will be graded as a whole. 3 Individual Projects (60 %) Each student is expected to complete 3 individual motion graphic pieces that illustrate creative, effective motion graphic design solutions and communicate an idea. All original graphics must be used. There should be audio in each of the three pieces. Projects should make effective use of the techniques covered in the short class exercises. Project #1 Introduction Kinetic Typography motion design Create a kinetic typographic motion design piece that introduces yourself, including your name and title.  Final movie should be 45-75 seconds. Project #2 Motion graphic design piece totally based on a piece of music Final piece should be a 45-75 seconds long. Choose a part of a piece of music that makes sense for the given time-frame. Create graphics that illustrate/interpret the music. Does not have to be a literal interpretation of the music, but should express a definite idea about the music. Project #3 Open Final piece should be a 45-75 seconds long. Projects 1-3 should be started by the second week of the quarter and be presented for critique a minimum of 2 times before the final movie is rendered. Group Project (20 %) Group project to be determined by the group. A minimum 2 minute motion graphic design piece should be the final result of a group effort. Final Hand in: The 3 individual projects plus the group project should be rendered as QuickTime movies and presented in the form of a reel in 2 different formats: 1. on a live site such as youtube, vimeo, or your own website. 2. handed in on a DVD as data or playable DVD. Organization and Participation  Participation means following expectations written below; being at every class, on time and offering constructive criticism to classmates. It also means being able to take criticism of one's own work. Participation will also mean having work completed for the assigned due dates.  91-100 = A Excellent 81-90 = B Above Average 71-80 = C Average 61-70 = D Below Average 60-0 = F Failure FX attendance-related failure I Incomplete Maintenance of Student Records Exercises and Projects will be turned in at the end of the quarter. All assignments will be returned to the student after grading. Grade books (grade spreadsheets) should be kept by the instructor for a minimum of one (1) year. Student tests, papers, projects, etc., that were graded by faculty for determining the final grade and were not returned to the student, should be kept for one (1) year. All assignments not picked up by students should be in the faculty office room 332.   INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS Required Expectations Attendance This course requires regular attendance.  It also requires extra time to be spent outside of class. If this class meets a total of 11 times, each student is allowed two (2) absences.  Three absences will result in a lowering of your grade by one letter.  Each additional two absences will result in another letter grade reduction.  If this class meets 22 times, each student is allowed 3 absences.  Four absences will result in the course grade being dropped one letter grade.  Any student acquiring eight (8) absences will be recommended for Instructor Withdrawal. Three tardies will equal one absence. WX: After the first class meeting and through the Census Date, the instructor will disenroll (WX) students who have never attended. The Census Date is listed under the Important Dates for the course in the official Class Schedule at http://www.mccneb.edu/schedule/. FX: An FX is a final grade given to a student who stops attending a class, does not return, and fails.  Participation Participation means following expectations written below; being at every class, on time and offering constructive criticism to classmates. It also means being able to take criticism of one's own work. Participation will also mean having work completed for the assigned due dates. Expectations Disruptive Classroom Behavior will not be tolerated Portable Electronic Devices Usage-no talking on cell phones in the Visual Arts Lab *Internet Use During Class is restricted to class assignments. Classtime will be spent drawing, critiquing, and other activities conducive to learning and practicing drawing. There is no time allowed or tolerance for playing games on the computer, texting, or any other activities that detract from these class processes. Anyone playing computer games during class will receive a lower grade for the course. COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS: When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp), which calls for responsible and cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/. RECORDING IN THE CLASSROOM: Students may not video or audio record class sessions without the instructor’s knowledge and permission. If recording of class sessions is authorized as a reasonable accommodation under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the instructor must have the appropriate documentation from College Disability Support Services. Permitted recordings are to be used only for the individual student’s educational review of the class session and may not be reproduced, posted, sold or distributed to others. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary procedures as outlined in the Student Conduct Code. ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT: Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for classwork may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website athttp://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or athttp://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V-4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf. STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw through WebAdvisor at http://webadvisor.mccneb.edu or by calling Central Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an attendance-related failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus. Notice:  This syllabus is written as an expectation of class topics, learning activities, and expected learning outcomes.  However, the instructor reserves the right to make changes in this schedule that may  result in enhanced or more effective learning for students.  These modifications will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will be done within the policies and guidelines of Metropolitan Community College. LEARNING SUPPORT MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Self-paced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available. Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student Handbook, College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations from Disability Support Services (DSS) located in each Student Services Office. After students have arranged for accommodations with DSS, the student and instructor should privately discuss these accommodations. For further information, please contact DSS or visit http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at 457-2900 or mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu. TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES: By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website: http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X-15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.