READING AND WRITING
Chapter One: Setting the Stage
Before you even touch an animation tool, you have to get your plan together. Liz Blazer’s big rule is that the story is everything. You can have the coolest, most expensive-looking effects in the world, but if your message is confusing, the video just won’t work. She suggests coming up with a “Big Idea” that is simple enough to explain in one short sentence. It also helps to set some boundaries for yourself so you don’t get overwhelmed by too many choices. Additionally, a mood board is helpful to collect colors and styles that match the specific feeling you want your story to have.
How I Used This
Planning this way really helped me stay on track with my three videos instead of just guessing as I went. By figuring out a “Big Idea” first—like the satisfying snap of a puzzle or the calm vibe of a beach sunrise, I knew exactly what I wanted each video to look like before I started. This kept me focused on the story, even when I was busy learning the tricky technical parts of Photoshop and Adobe Animate.
RESEARCH IS KING
I like anything that celebrates accomplishments, like a grad hat and diploma.
Encouragement is cool.
Typography GIFs are exciting to watch!
Facial expressions can be used for many purposes
This is just funny!
CREATE
Video One
I created this project in Photoshop by utilizing a puzzle action from Adobe Exchange. I then animated the individual pieces via the timeline, staggering their entry.
Video Two
I used Adobe Animate to bring these emojis to life, following Prof. Golden’s classic tween tutorial. I timed their expressions to change along with the different seasons of the year.
Video Three
For my third video, I explored the cinemagraph technique in Photoshop, which has become a personal favorite. Using a sunrise beach video from Pixabay, I masked the composition to keep the water frozen while the sun continues to rise, finishing the look with contrast and gradient adjustment layers.
