Motion Graphics
Master the art of motion graphics, from concept to final render. Learn industry-standard tools, advanced animation techniques, and storytelling fundamentals to create stunning visual narratives. Transform static designs into captivating dynamic experiences. Start creating today!
Create professional motion graphics in our intensive 4-week course
Learn Motion Graphics with Adobe After Effects at Orange Seed Academy — a beginner-friendly, 4-week course for aspiring motion designers. Master layer management, keyframe animation, kinetic typography, masking, and 2.5D space (cameras, lights, nulls), while building a professional, broadcast-quality pipeline enhanced by AI workflows using Gemini. Weekly interactive quizzes and hands-on assignments carry you through final delivery — exporting broadcast, alpha-channel, and social-ready formats — so you graduate portfolio-ready, not just skilled.
Beyond the core four weeks, enjoy a full month of free 1-on-1 mentorship to polish your animations, troubleshoot expressions in real time, and refine your reel with expert feedback. Choose from 10 curated project briefs, and graduate with a professional animation reel built for the After Effects motion design industry. Enrol in Orange Seed Academy’s Motion Graphics course today and turn static designs into captivating, dynamic stories.
Course Outline
Week 1: The Foundation – Interface, Layers & Timing
Topic A: Introduction & Workflow
- The Motion Pipeline: From Storyboard to Final Render
- Interface Tour: Project Panel, Composition Panel, Timeline, Layer Controls
- Composition Settings: Resolution (1080p vs 4K), Frame Rates (24/30/60fps), Duration
- Importing Assets: Organising the Project panel; importing Illustrator/Photoshop files correctly
Topic B: Layers & The “Big 5” Properties
- Layer Types: Solids, Text, Shapes, Null Objects
- Transform Properties: Anchor Point (A), Position (P), Scale (S), Rotation (R), Opacity (T).
- Keyframing 101: Setting, moving, deleting keyframes; the stopwatch icon.
Topic C: Timing & Rendering Basics
- Timing: How keyframe spacing affects speed
- RAM Preview (Spacebar vs Numpad 0)
- Rendering: Native Render Queue, exporting MP4 (H.264), Output Module settings
Week 2: Shapes, Typography & Masks
Topic A: The Power of Shape Layers
- Creating Shapes: Rectangles, Ellipses, Stars, Pen Tool paths
- Shape Modifiers: Add menu (Trim Paths, Repeater, Zig Zag)
- Spotlight: Trim Paths for self-drawing lines/borders
Topic B: Kinetic Typography (Text Animation)
- Text Animators: Range Selectors to animate letters individually (Tracking, Opacity, Scale)
- Presets: Browsing, applying, customising built-in text presets
Topic C: Masking & Mattes
- Masking: Using the Pen tool to hide/reveal parts of a layer
- Track Mattes: Alpha Matte vs Luma Matte
Week 3: Physics, Parenting & 2.5D Space
Topic A: The Graph Editor (Refining Motion)
- Easing: Easy Ease (F9) vs Linear Keyframes
- The Speed Graph: Adjusting handles for “Snappy” or “Smooth” motion
- Motion Blur: Enabling motion blur for realism
Topic B: Hierarchy & Parenting (Basic Rigging)
- Parenting: The “Pickwhip” tool. Linking layers so they move together
- Null Objects: Using invisible controllers to manage groups of layers
- Simple Expressions: Using
loopOut()to make animations repeat forever automatically
Topic C: 2.5D Space (3D Layers)
- 3D Switch: Turning 2D layers into 3D objects (X, Y, Z axes)
- Cameras: Creating a Camera layer to fly through a scene
- Lights: Spotlights vs. point lights, casting simple shadows
Week 4: AI Workflow, Polish & Final Sprint
Topic A: AI-Assisted Workflow (Using Gemini)
- Ideation: using Gemini (free tier) to generate scripts/concepts
- Expression Debugging: pasting error codes/expression requests into Gemini for fixes
- Visual Planning: AI-generated text descriptions for storyboards
Topic B: Effects & Colour Correction
- Adjustment Layers applied across the whole timeline
- Stylisation: Glow, Drop Shadow, Gaussian Blur
- Transitions: manual Slide/Wipe (not presets)
Topic C: Final Delivery, Export & Portfolio Prep (new)
- Delivery formats: MP4 (H.264) for general sharing vs ProRes 4444 for alpha-channel/compositing handoff
- Platform-safe exports: aspect ratios and safe margins for Instagram/TikTok (9:16), square (1:1), and broadcast/YouTube (16:9)
- Assembling a reel: sequencing 2+ projects with consistent branding/bumper for a portfolio showreel
Mentorship & Portfolio Polish
After four weeks of core instruction, students enter a free 1-month mentorship delivered online via Discord. This phase shifts the focus from learning new tools to applying them to industry standards.
- Project Polish & Portfolio Building: Finish or redo your 2 required projects. High-quality submissions ensure better scores and a stronger portfolio.
- Weekly 1-on-1 Sessions: Each student is assigned a dedicated mentor for a personalised 30 to 60-minute weekly guidance session.
- Open File Reviews: Present open project files via live screen sharing for direct mentor critiques and feedback.
- Live Debugging: Join dedicated livestreams where instructors actively troubleshoot settings and fix your project errors in real-time.
- Final Premiere: Submit your fully rendered images or video for the Virtual Viewing Party to watch and critique final reels with the class.
- Certification & Next Steps: Complete the course evaluation and submit all final polished projects to finalise grading and unlock your Certificate of Completion.
What’s Inside?
1-on-1 Mentorship
One full month of dedicated expert guidance tailored to your specific goals.
Seed LMS Access
Lifetime access to the Student Portal, hosting all your modules and resources.
Weekly Interactive Quizzes
Test your skills and track progress with gamified assignments and feedback.
Official Certification
Validate your expertise with a digital certificate recognized by industry leaders.
What You Will Learn
- Navigate the After Effects interface and master the “Big 5” transform properties
- Animate custom shape layers and utilise modifiers like Trim Paths for dynamic lines
- Create engaging kinetic typography using text animators and range selectors
- Apply masks and track mattes to hide, reveal, and composite visual elements
- Refine animation timing and physics using easy ease and the Graph Editor
- Build 2.5D scenes using 3D layers, virtual cameras, null objects, and lighting
- Utilise AI tools to write scripts, brainstorm concepts, and troubleshoot expressions
