Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion the student will be able to:

Create digital composite motion graphic products that incorporate elements of multimedia
design, typography and layout, digital imaging/photography, digital video and audio editing, and 3D animation.
Optimize motion graphic projects for multiple delivery options.
Evaluate motion graphic projects, identify items for improvement, and implement changes.

Lecture, demonstration, & interactive methods of instruction will be used to provide the information necessary to achieve the expected student outcomes. Students will develop motion graphic projects that can be used in multimedia presentations and portfolios.

Grades will be granted based upon a combination of attendance, in-class participation, and the completion of the motion graphics projects. Assessment also may include objective tests, weekly assignments, and additional items noted in the course syllabus.

Themes, Concepts, Issues

·         Project planning

·         Storyboarding

·         Terminology

·         Importing footage

·         Building compositions

·         Setting animation keyframes

·         Working with layers

·         Working with audio

·         Applying special effects

·         Rendering movies

·         Optimization

·         Publishing projects

·         Industry standards

·         Real world applications

Competencies, Skills

·         Review multimedia project planning; adapt plan essentials to compositing video projects

·         Preparing footage

·         Identify the various windows and palettes used by After Effects

·         Import footage items to be used as source material

·         Understand alpha channel types and how to import them properly

·         Build a multilayered composition

·         Adjust and use the preview modes to quickly preview compositions

·         Set and edit keyframes over time for a variety of properties, including: Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity and others

·         Work with layers - duplicate, reorder, set transfer modes and layer switches to control how multiple layers of video are displayed and interact with each other

·         Use the Layer window to trim a layer and set in and out points Create and Animate text

·         Use tools such as Title and Video safe guides, and the grid option to correctly position art within a composition

·         Create and control motion paths in a composition

·         Add Audio to a composition

·         Use special effects (filters) to alter the appearance of video and imported artwork

·         Identify the differences between vector and bitmap art imported into After Effects

·         Output completed compositions in the correct format for the end user's requirement

·         Use the render Queue to batch render several compositions at once

·         Note the various output settings and explain how to configure them properly based on the format requirements of the students hardware and software combination

·         create, edit, and adapt graphic images for use in multimedia applications using industry standard graphic software and the various delivery possibilities; test, debug, and evaluate the MM graphic elements

·         Present the completed motion graphics to the class

·         Participate in individual and group evaluations of the multimedia graphic materials, identifying items for improvement; implement the requested changes

·         Publish the edited materials to the MM portfolio and Department Web Site, as directed.