What motion graphics techniques do I need to have?

[Solstice]

8 months ago my contract got terminated (I worked as a Videographer/Video Editor) and I'm currently looking for a similar full-time role. Based on my job search almost all job requirements include some degree of experience or knowledge of creating motion graphics and using After Effects.

This is a silly question but what specific techniques for creating motion graphics do I need to have in order to be "employable"?

I'm kind of lost and I just need some direction.

Thank you.

 

[WalterB]

What kind of techniques you need is a pretty hard question to anwser.
Let's turn this around:

Did you ever make motion graphics (that go beyond fade and zooming a title ) ?
If not: start practising to create a little reel.
If yes: create a little reel and keep developing your skills.

http://www.videocopilot.net has quite a few motion graphics tutorials to help you learning techniques in AE that can be useful.

 

[Chris Tempel]

Just don't let your reel be made up of stuff you made from following VC tutorials. Inspired by is okay, but use the techniques to produce your own work.

 

[HU_Nathan7]

Just don't let your reel be made up of stuff you made from following VC tutorials. Inspired by is okay, but use the techniques to produce your own work.

Couldn't agree more haha. That's gotta be one of my biggest pet peeves, right behind those people who make after effects templates based off VideoCopilot tutorials and then sell them as templates on stock footage sites.

I would say do you feel you can make some quality motion graphics that are somewhat unique and original, on a regular basis? That's what you should feel comfortable with if that's the direction you want to go in.

That being said, it really depends on what company you're applying for. I've done motion graphics for Coca-Cola and I've done motion graphics for misc PBS specials, and the PBS specials don't require near the experience that were required in doing the stuff for Coca-Cola; which wanted much flashier and "edgier" designs.

As far as getting better. VideoCopilot.net is probably the best resource out there. Do every tutorial on that site, and then do them again, and then one more time for safe measure. Also, CreativeCow.net has a plethora of great tutorials. And the one that isn't mentioned as much but deserved a lot more attention is RedGiantTV. Theirs are a bit more advanced but have some great content that really help you get into the mind of how a motion graphics artists thinks when coming up with designs.

 

[jax_rox]

It really depends on the role. Traditionally, with a Shooter/Editor role, AE is desirable but not necessary. You should learn it, but usually (depending on who you're working for), full on motion graphics will go to the in-house specialist.

You should learn some basic titling and compositing. Masking, Basic motion tracking, maybe even basic keying. If you're looking at tutorials online, the important thing is what you learn from it. You won't be able to copy the designs contained therein, but the techniques you learn will transfer over.

 

[FilmmakerJ]

This is actually exactly what I want to get freelance work doing as I build up my portfolio of shorts and other video projects. I stumbled across some pretty broad and in-depth tutorials by a Youtuber named Mt. Mograph, who has almost 80 videos regarding a multitude of Motion-Graphics concepts, tips, tricks, and ideas. All of these videos he has named "Summits," 1 through 79 so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtv8QptWNbg

My plan is to begin going through all of these "Summits beginning in June, and work through all that they teach in order to begin producing my own original motion-graphics professionally and efficiently. One of the biggest aspects about motion graphics that makes it rather fun, and easier than you think, is that most of the 2D motion-graphics are created by duplicating, echoing, repeating, tiling, and kaleidoscoping any number of simple polygonal and shaped-based animations. Which means that with little work and a few layered effects, you can get a result that looks like it took you hours if not days to make, which is what creates visual splendor and perceived value.

I'm not entirely sure what a Videography job looking for Motion-Graphics skills would be looking for exactly. My best guess is that they may want you to be capable of creating Lower-Thirds animations for interview or new-cast styled productions, as well as basic Logo reveals and transitions, other overlay animations to place video content within, and perhaps something like those music videos where texts of different sizes appear as the lyrics are sung. But that's about all I think would be the most necessary. Anything beyond that is getting into the more conceptual and creative stuff used for commercial advertising and television bumpers, which is usually done by far more experienced and specializing motion-graphics artists. Although I'm fully prepared to go in that direction despite not going to college for it. I'm already pretty experienced doing visual effects with AE, in so far as I've gotten some extremely favorable results. But I want to expand my experience and built my portfolio in order to do the more elaborate and detailed motion-graphics not only for my own work, but also to hopefully get some serious work creating both simple and complex pieces for other producers and content creators.

 

[_Rok_]

Software & technique aside, here's an often overlooked skill set: Color.

I'm a VFX Supervisor, and when working on a film there are some go-to Compositors that I ask to develop a 'look' for others to follow. It has nothing to do with how well they pull a key, or use the latest tools; it's their ability to take a hodgepodge of elements and blend them together as a pleasing image. They can literally make something from nothing. More often than not, I select these Artist for their use of colors that work well together. This skill is both innate and trained.

So, if you want your reel to stand out, I suggest you start with:
- Google "complimentary colors" also "orange and teal"
- Study still images specifically for color: Graphic design/ad magazines.