This is a quick tip on how to get precise timing and positioning by double-clicking your keyframe in After Effects. You can view your playhead offset from the keyframes while adjusting the values to get your timing just right. Read more
This is a quick tip on how to get precise timing and positioning by double-clicking your keyframe in After Effects. You can view your playhead offset from the keyframes while adjusting the values to get your timing just right. Read more
November 16, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.
The choice of 2D motion software stands as a pivotal decision, capable of either smoothing the creative workflow or introducing complexities that may potentially disrupt the artistic process. It's not merely a tool; it's the backbone of your digital canvas, influencing how seamlessly ideas can be translated into vibrant animations. The stakes are high – a well-chosen software elevates efficiency, allowing artists to effortlessly bring their vision to life, while an ill-fitting one can introduce obstacles, impeding the natural flow of creativity. In this comprehensive comparison, we'll pit five animation powerhouses against each other: Adobe Animate, Rive, After Effects, Cavalry, and Toon Boom Harmony. We'll delve into their unique features, use cases, and provide a pros and cons list to assist you in making an informed decision.
After Effects is pretty much my go-to app. It can pretty much handle anything I throw at it and it pairs great with Cinema 4D. I've been using it for so long (since version 3!) and have such a deep knowledge of the program's ins & outs and plugins to extend it. It can be a pain in the ass, for sure, but Adobe has come a long way in making this a much more reliable, stable, fast and robust app. The newest version is one of the best that's ever been put out by Adobe, making this a tough one to beat.
If need interactivity and want to stay within the Adobe ecosystem then Animate is your app. Animate used to be Flash until that got killed in favor of a more native web experience. Animate is a great tool to help with frame-by-frame animation. However, there are other programs that can handle that in a less clunky way. I think for some this is just the go-to because of legacy reasons and a robust community. I haven't used it for frame-by-frame stuff in years and it mostly gathers dust on my box.
Build interactive animations that run anywhere. Blazing fast. Tiny size. Those are the Rive taglines. It's pretty much like Figma but with animation capabilities. I found the animation a bit on the basic side, but getting into the interactive part with the State machine opens this up to a whole new world of interactivity. This feels like the future that Flash promised but was never really able to deliver on. As advertisement is going omnichannel, along with interactivity being a must-have, this app is poised to be huge because it can be delivered anywhere. Check out this video Joey Korenman chats with Joe Nash talks the future of 2d motion design with Rive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtkzJLvWj5c&t=4298s
This is the animation app FUBU. For animators By Animators. Realtime, data-driven, and procedural, it has built-in tools that are similar to a lot of AE scripts like Joysticks & Sliders, Limber/Rubberhose, Motion 4, and physic dynamics. The thing that's holding this app back I think is that the market already had this toolset by plugins & scripts already in After Effects... so it's like why learn something new? Most animators I know played with it for a few weeks then went back to doing what they knew. I think this could be an interesting app for social and for infographics. There's a lot of potential here but I don't think it's enough unless they offer something new that nobody else really does. I think responsive layouts are a good start and if they incorporate the runtime capabilities of something like Rive it could be a real contender.
Conclusion: When you're talking about 2D motion, selecting software goes beyond features; it plays a crucial role in shaping an environment that fosters unrestricted artistic expression, with each stroke contributing to the smooth flow of the creative process. The ideal animation software depends on your project's specific needs and your familiarity with each tool. As an animator, I have to make very careful choices about what to invest in my time for learning software. Part of that is figuring out the work I want to do and the other part is figuring out where the market is trending. To summarize, choose Adobe Animate for versatility and legacy studios that use it, Rive for modern vector animations and interactivity, After Effects for comprehensive video production and visual effects, Cavalry for 2.5D animation and node-based workflows, and Toon Boom Harmony for professional animation production, especially in studios. Tailor your choice to your project's requirements, and you'll be well on your way to motion design Valhalla.
November 1, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.
Planning and storyboarding are crucial steps in creating a successful video project, whether it's a short film, documentary, promotional video, animated film, motion graphics, or any other type of video content. Here are some steps to help you effectively plan and storyboard your video project, along with insights into different types of storyboard shots and camera angles:
The scene opens with a wide shot to establish the location and provide context. It shows the overall setting and the placement of characters and objects.
After the wide shot, a medium shot is used to focus on the characters or subjects within the scene. It provides a closer view while still showing some background.
Following the medium shot, close-up shots are used to emphasize the characters' emotions, reactions, or specific details. These shots create a stronger connection with the characters.
In some cases, an extreme close-up may be employed to highlight a particular facial expression, gesture, or object with great detail.
This sequence, starting from a wide shot and moving closer to the subjects, is a common storytelling technique to draw the viewer into the scene, establish context, and create emotional engagement. However, the specific shot progression may vary based on the director's creative choices (or yours) and the requirements of the scene.
Repeat this process for each frame in your storyboard sequence. As you progress from a thumbnail to a detailed sketch, your storyboard frames will become a comprehensive visual guide for your video project, helping you plan camera angles, composition, lighting, and narrative flow effectively.
In summary, effective planning and storyboarding are essential for a successful video project. Above all they help you save time, and resources, and ensure that you convey your message clearly and engage your target audience.
July 11, 2022 — Comments are off for this post.
At Attack Studios, we value our partners’ needs and vision. We support our clients with the production services they require to overcome their branding challenges. Since 2013, we’ve been a trusted delivery partner for groundbreaking animated solutions and motion graphics. Read more
February 22, 2022 — Comments are off for this post.
Attack Studios has been recognized as a Top 30 Video Marketing Agency in 2022 by DesignRush.
November 18, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.
A few weeks ago, Attack Studios was on vVerge's list of Best Graphic Design Studios in Chicago. vVerge is a platform that provides lists of top experts in your area. Whether you're looking for the best local lawyer, photographer, or animation studio, vVerge has a list for you.
November 2, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.
There is a range of different types of Movie Title Design Sequences, Opening Credits, and Intros that filmmakers and directors use in their projects. Each one has its own distinct reason for existence and the role that it plays in storytelling beyond just showcasing the credit. The art of the title sequence is really a lot of detective work figuring out the themes of the story and putting that into a framework or motif of imagery that makes sense and adds to the narrative without giving too much away.
June 25, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.
Recently, we have been recognized by Clutch as one of the top explainer video companies in Chicago. Clutch is an established B2B reviews platform that helps firms across the globe connect with the top service providers that they need in order to improve effectiveness and increase productivity.
December 8, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.
Animation and comic books have many areas of discipline that overlap. From thumbnails to character design, and storytelling to lettering and text effects, these industries have more in common than not.
This series of blogs post will discuss work, new and old, from both industries as well as dive into more niche practices like motion design, 3D animation, stop-motion, webcomics, and motion comics.
June 9, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.
Working with all kinds of designers and illustrators, we sometimes get assets that aren't ideal for importing into After Effects. The client can get pretty mad when the look of the video doesn't match the look of the design boards. Gradient Maps are the common culprit. Here's how to convert a Gradient Map to LUT?
© Jerry Nelson 2021 | Attack Motion Design is a company registered and licensed in Chicago, IL USA.
© Jerry Nelson 2013 | Attack Motion Design is a company registered and licensed in Chicago, IL USA.