Motion Graphics

Motion graphics are simply graphics which are applied to video footage and/ or animation to create an illusion of a moving image or transforming an image.  Motion graphics are used in films and television for many different things such as; TV idents, titles, virtual backgrounds and visual effects in film and television productions. They are also used to tell the audience what they are watching and what is happening on screen.

TV Idents

BBC 3 2008 Ident

 

BBC Three is aimed at a young adult audience, already this is different to BBC One as that is aimed at a wide audience but mainly focused on around adults. In this TV Ident the BBC logo is seen as pipes with coloured liquid passing through. The pipes are incorporated in most of the BBC Three idents which makes them consistent and easy to recognise by the viewer. The ident also links to the intended audience because the ident is upbeat, bright and modern including things like new technology. TV idents are used to remind the viewer what channel they are watching, they are also used to link together programmes without long adverts.

Visual Effects in Film

Sin City- Green Screen

 

The film ‘Sin City’ relies heavily on visual effects. The film was originally shot on green screen instead of location, which meant when it came to post- production a lot of time and money was invested in visual effects. Using visual effects, the crew were able to recreate the graphic novel and bring it to life using film. Although the effects of the film seem quite simple, they have a huge role in telling the audience what is happening on screen. Visual effects like compositing green screen are very easy to achieve using software such as Adobe After Effects or more professional software such as Digital Domain’s Nuke.

Virtual Backgrounds in presented programmes

BBC Weather Forecast

 

Virtual backgrounds are used in weather forecasts using a green background. The presenter is able to talk to the viewer about what’s going on while the background changes and links to the subject they are talking about.  Using virtual backgrounds can create illusion for the viewer because they think that it is actually there when really it’s just a green wall. Using this visual effect can be easier and cheaper because it means that the crew are able to quickly change the background for a subject whenever they need and keep changing it instead of buying new backdrops or going on location.  This clip starts with the BBC logo to remind the audience what they are watching and what subject is coming up next (the weather). The clips also use lower thirds at the beginning, this is used to show the weather reporters name and tell the audience who they are watching. It also gives the audience a feeling of trust because they should believe what the presenter is saying.

 

Visual Effects

As well as motion graphics, visual effects are also used in film and television. Visual effects are usually used to create an image which was not there when the production was originally filmed. Visual effects can vary from basic composition to animation to huge special effect sequences. Below i have used a scene from my short film as an example. This scene was originally filmed using green screen so required visual effects to make sure the audience knew the characters surroundings. Green screen is an example of composition, this is where images are put together to create one.

This is the scene before any effects were added. The actors and props were positioned in front of a green wall.

To change the background from just a green wall, I firstly selected an image that would match the characters situation and surroundings they’re supposed to be in. I then imported the image in to the After Effects project, and selected the image and the footage and went to the ‘Effect’ option; I then selected ‘Keying’ and ‘Key light (1.2)’.

After you have chosen the Keylight Effect, you are then asked to select part of the green background (select a part that is in-between the lightest and darkest shade of green); this then turns the background black so you are able to insert your chosen image.  Once your image has been inserted all you have to do is resize it and if needed move the footage so that it is where you want it. The scene should now have a background and look as if you filmed on location.

Motion Graphics & Visual Effects Software

There is a variety of different software available for people to use professionally and at home. Some examples include; Adobe After Effects, Blender, Apple’s Shake, Eyeon’s Digital Fusion and Digital Domain’s Nuke.

Adobe After Effects

Adobe after effects is a motion graphics and compositing software published by Adobe Systems, this is used in the post- production stage of the film and television production. Its main uses are 2D and 2.5D animation, visual effects compositing and any other finishing (such as image adjustment, colour correction etc).

 

Blender

Blender is a 3D computer graphics software that is used to create animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. The software includes; 3D modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, animating, camera tracking video and composing. This software is focused mainly on gaming graphics and also contains a built in game engine.

Apple’s Shake

Apple’s Shake was a compositing software used in the post production industry; it was used mainly for visual effects and digital compositing for film, video and commercials. Shake exposed its node graph architecture graphically. This enabled it to have complex image processing sequences to be designed through the connection of effects ‘nodes’ in a graphical workflow interface. Compositing like this gives flexibility including the ability to modify the parameters of earlier image processing. Other software such as Blender, Eyeon Fusion and Digital Domain’s Nuke use similar node- based approaches.

 

Eyeon’s Digital Fusion

Digital Fusion is an image compositing software, that is used to create visual effects and digital compositing for film, HD and commercials. Eyeon’s Digital Fusion also includes a node- based interface which contains complex processes which are built up by connecting a flowcharts or schematic of many nodes, these each represent a simpler process such as blur or colour correction. Again this allows flexibility for the user and allows the ability to look back on earlier image processes. This type of software has been used on films such as; Sin City, Terminator Salvation and Avatar.

 

Digital Domain’s Nuke

NUKE is a node- based digital compositing software used for film and television in post production. NUKE is a very professional and popular software used in the post production process used by professionals such as; DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation. It has also been used on productions such as; Avatar, I Robot, Tron: Legacy and Black Swan.