Sijun Forums :: View topic - What is the best software for motion graphics ?

Ko · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2001 11:52 pm

Hmnn.... What do you mean??
Could you specify more clearly.

I'd recommend Adobe After Effects 4.x for motion graphics.... and there's a new version 5 coming soon. It has a pretty complete suite of tools and is quite intuitive to use. I consider it "photoshop for moving graphics", as it has a lot of the same features which are all editable over time. ...I could really go on for quite a while. Is there anything specific that you would like to know?

If you're rich you would wish to buy an SGI with Media Illusions!

Ko

quaternius · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2001 8:49 pm

Dr. B -
Like Ko said - what are you trying to do? You can make simple 2d animations and animatics in a variety of programs, including Painter. Is this for the web?
If you're after adding special effects, titles, and editing animations and movies in various ways, then After Effects and Premier are kinda the standards. For effects I'd probably start(and stay) with After-Effects -tho' some of the other software out there really rocks too. Premier isn't intended for effects and doesn't work well for this... but Premier might be perfect for what you are doing, once you check it out.

...like Ko said.

Q

[This message has been edited by quaternius (edited March 07, 2001).]

frostfyre · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2001 8:42 am

http://www.efxmag.com/efx2.html

These guys (for a premium, in print) do monthly tutorials, tips, tricks and gallery stuff for a lot of major packages, incouding ones that are no longer available.

I've only used After Effects (which I think is incredible!) so I can't say too much for other packages other than what I've read. After Effects is the only package I'm aware of with a fully usable "cheap" version. The production bundle puts it into a league with the others.

The features most lacking in After Effects are video paint and true 3D compositing, both of which are to be included in the next release. If you want a package with refined video painting tools, you should probably look at Puffin's Commotion or discreet *combustion, both of which run several thousand dollars, and require some hefy hardware.

"Best" is a hard to define, it depends on what you want/need or can afford. Good Luck!

kaz · junior member Member # Joined: 06 Mar 2001 Posts: 1

After Effects 4.x is the way to go. One of my friends, who's done work for a few large scale firms, uses that program in conjunction with photoshop and illustrator. After Effects 4 even allows for the importation of vector designs (Illustrator stuff). It is great being that those vector files are so small and easily scalable.

[This message has been edited by kaz (edited March 06, 2001).]

tayete · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2001 9:49 am

We are forgetting Flash.
Flash can move graphics and is really easy to learn and use.

dr . bang · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2001 9:28 pm

Wow, thanks for the replies guys!

Sorry for not being specific enough, i want to create flash moving graphics that you see on TV.

I'm confused to, i know After Effects is good, but i've read some where that a program called Combustion can do things like that too......, and many many other unheard of software

I guess after all, After Effects is the way to go

AJTLESJklfEGFEJLSL JGS:EKL

A.Buttle · member Member # Joined: 20 Mar 2000 Posts: 1724

Actually, frostfyre, you can get Commotion 3.1 Pro at Journey Ed for 389 $US. Combustion is going for 698 $US. At Creation Engine, Combustion is going for 599 $US and Commotion is going for 359 $US. All you need to have is a valid Student ID. This may seem like a lot, but, really, it is relatively cheap. Even better, Creation Engine is in Mountain View on Middlefield road, so you can just go down there and get whatever you want.

And, I don't think there is any video painting included in AE 5. It's been announced and I didn't see any mention of it in the available literature.

dr . bang, I've used After Effects, it's Production bundle version, and Commotion. I think that the best place to start is After Effects. It's pretty difficult to figure it out, but once you do the underlying logic becomes clear and remains consistent in its application.

After that I'd suggest getting Commotion DV which is basically the same as Commotion Pro without all of the Motion Tracking stuff. Its interface is very similar to Photoshop's. It's a little easier to learn than After Effects, but not as generally useful.

And don't listen to quaternius, don't ever use Premiere for effects. It completely sucks in that regard.

For more information, check these out
Adobe - After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere
discreet - combustion, 3Ds Max
Puffin Designs - Commotion Pro

------------------
I fear the end is near for fish with no hip burrito.
Joe Dillingham
[email protected]

A.Buttle · member Member # Joined: 20 Mar 2000 Posts: 1724

Maybe you didn't read my post at all, dr . bang....

------------------
I fear the end is near for fish with no hip burrito.
Joe Dillingham
[email protected]

dr . bang · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2001 9:39 am

A.Buttle. i'm really sorry!!! Here's my story to why i didnt read your reply

The last reply i checked was Tayete's reply , and this topic was going down to the middle of the thread. So I though no body is gonna reply any more and i just as well went a head and make a last reply, then i went to bed. When i come back from school the day today, i was surprised that one more person reply to my msg i checked and see nothing, still my reply was the last one.

Then i realize that I FORGOT TO HIT REFRESH !!!!!!!!

Still this is my fault and I really apology