Case Study - Elements of Motion Graphics

Alpha Channels

An alpha channel is a type of mask in motion graphics. The mask is called a channel mask, the mask changes the transparency of the clip.

You can modify the alpha channels options by:

- select the channel, then choose channel options in the options menu.

- then you have to enter a name for your alpha channel.

- choose the cloud and opacity of the overlay.

- specify whether you want the masked area to include the masked area, selected area or spot colour.

- then click OK to close the options box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQ-3FFbf4w

1. An alpha channel is being used when the Tesco logo fades in, the Tesco logo is on an alpha channel we know this because the background is transparent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_OFesTKDX8

1. On the main background where there is an opening showing newcastle.

2. For the objects that slide and then drop down, for each object there is a separate alpha channel.

3D layers

A 3d layer is there to create an illusion of depth within an image. Also doing this adds an extra axis to the x and y it is the z axis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmlG6eq_no

1. With the stars coming in they will be 3D because they fly towards the camera.

2. Also the clouds and mountain will be 3D as well.


Keyframes

Keyframes are a single still image in the sequence that happens that is an important point. they are used to create points of motions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWpglJL4KZk

1. Right at the end of the pixar ident the key frames on the opacity would have been changed, for the text that reads 'animation studios' so it can fade in.

2. Also the lamp that moves would have had its key frames moved on the position tab.

Mattes

A matte is where you use a mask to blank out a part of an image to replace it with a new image.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8NDt85cHQw

1. replacing human heads with cats and dogs is a matte, also it would have been motion tracked.

2D elements

2D elements are 3 or 4 sided shapes that can be displayed on a x and y axis. there are 3 types of 2D elements: shell, solid and plate. a shell is linear one-dimensional, that have constant values on the x and y axis. A solid is a two dimensional that is either quadrilateral or triangular. A plate is also two dimentional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWpglJL4KZk

1. the pixar letters are 2D elements

2. The animations studio is a 2D element as well.