The document discusses the history and techniques of motion graphics and visual effects in film. It provides details on how early films used still cards for titles and dialogue before animation allowed for more exciting title sequences in the 1950s. It also discusses how visual effects evolved from matte paintings to digital graphics and CGI. Specific techniques like compositing and keying are explained. Examples from films like Vertigo, Jurassic Park, and Tintin are analyzed to showcase the use of these motion graphics and visual effects techniques.

1. Motion Graphics and
Compositing:
Case Study
Benedict Terry
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2. 2
Critical Discussion

3. Motion Graphics
HISTORY OF MOTION GRAPHICS
In the silent era, still cards were used for titles and dialogue. These were not animated;
instead they popped up on the screen briefly when necessary so the audience knew what
character’s were thinking. Starting in 1950s, timing and animation techniques allowed for
more exciting title sequences. These are usually set atop motion of film, either in the form
of a montage or animation.
ABOUT MOTION GRAPHICS
Motion graphics are video animations and moving graphics that are presented on screen.
They are commonly used for logos and/or to give information about a specific subject. As a
result of this, they tend to be eye-catching, informative and animated smoothly. The
graphics are developed using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, then they are exported to
Adobe After Effects to animate.

4. Motion Graphics
TITLE SEQUENCES
In the early days of films, there were no real motion graphics. Instead, still cards were used
for text, both in titles and dialogue (silent era). These were often faded in or cut in a
sequence of over the film. In the 1950s, animation and timing allowed for more exciting and
dynamic opening titles. A very notable example during this period is the opening of Alfred
Hitchcock’s 1958 thriller “Vertigo”, which showcased the first example of CGI in film
developed by early computer artist John Whitney, with simple spiraling mathematical
patterns over the titles to create the sensation of vertigo.

5. Motion Graphics
In contemporary film, opening titles are optional, as more people are given credit so the
credits have to be shown at the end of the film. However, in some films the most important
people to the project, such as the director, producer and actors. A notable example of this is
the James Bond movies, which have continued the trend of engaging introductions for the
movie franchise. This example is from Casino Royale (2006). Designed by Johnnie Frankel, it
uses digital animation to create a surreal environment. There is heavy use of black and red
in this sequence, which match the colours of playing cards, and the presence of hears,
diamonds, clubs and spades exemplify this theming clearly. There is also the tradition of
guns and fighting villains.

6. Visual Effects
HISTORY OF VISUAL AFFECTS
Before computer generated imagery (CGI), matte paintings were used for backgrounds.
Matte painting refers to an image that has been blocked into the background. Mattes were
painted onto glass and film was shot through holes in the matte to give an impression. For
actors, sets and props were physically produced and models were sometimes made when a
shot requires movement.
Digital graphics and computer generated imagery began gaining ground in the 1980s, but
really emerged in the 1990s with films such as Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film “Jurassic Park”
which kick-started the CGI trend that exists to this day. Matte paintings are still present, but
they are created digitally and 3D models are constructed using CGI.
ABOUT VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual effects are elements of film that are applied during post-production. They are
designed to give a more exciting sensation in the film, especially in fantasy or adventure
films where fictional effects are used to intrigue and excite a viewer.

7. Visual Effects
Compositing means creating imagery from separate sources, often with the application of
keying to some images. It is most commonly practiced in modern film-making as a result of
the reliance on keying. However, Georges Méliès pioneered the technique in the late 19th
Century and some pre-digital practices are still present today. The most famous example of
pre-digital compositing is film through matte paintings, as well as keying
Keying is the most famous method of compositing. It involves characters and objects
standing in front of a solid block of colour, preferably a green or blue screen. Pioneered in
1898 by George Albert Smith, it’s first most prominent use was in 1903’s “The Great Train
Robbery”.
Computer generated imagery (CGI), the most notable special effect that appeared in the rise
of computers, involves developing objects, often 3D, on computers and applying them to
computers. The first example of it in film was in Hitchcock’s 1957 film “Vertigo”, but it
features more prominently in “Westworld” (1973) with pixelating prominent for the
android’s vision. CGI effects began to gain serious grounding in the mid-1990s following
Spielberg’s 1993 film “Jurassic Park” and they remain a mainstay in film, with projects such
as “Guardians of the Galaxy” featuring said effects prominent.

8. 8
Analysis

9. Motion Graphics Sequence
Psychological thriller “Vertigo” (1958) opens with a shot of an eye illuminated in red to
create a sensation of discomfort. This is accompanied by white titles leaping out of the eye.
The white stands out strongly against the red background with a clear contrast. Then the
camera zooms into the eye to show swirling computer generated framework. The shaping
and motion of these graphics are designed to simulate the effect of vertigo, the driving force
of the film’s plot. The use of a variety of colours, especially classing faded and sharp colours,
creates a disquieting sensation in the viewer, preparing them for further tension to come. It
also has slow pacing, forcing the viewer to view the discomfort of the scene for longer.

10. Motion Graphics Sequence
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the 2011 CGI reworking of Belgian cartoon character Tintin
opens with a 2D animated segment created by an uncredited Dennis Yoo accompanied by
opening credits. While the credits roll, they depict the common scenarios that Tintin and his
dog Snowy get into, such as being mistaken for crimes they didn’t commit and having to find
the true perpetrator. This mini-adventure is very surreal in nature (such as driving vans over
typewriters), paying homage to the French love of surreal humour and the comics of the
early 20th Century. The story played out is also interesting, as it follows Tintin and Snowy
tracking down a villain to retrieve back the dot over the “I” in Spielberg.

11. Visual Effects
Spielberg’s 1993 film “Jurassic Park” may not have been the first film to employ CGI effects,
but it did perfect them to such a level that the effects looked realistic, especially for 1993.
For much of the long scenes, the dinosaurs were animated using 3D rendering software,
though animatronics were used for shots that involved physical contact. To animate the
dinosaurs, a skeleton was arranged to make them easier to move and edit where necessary,
while reptilian skin was rendered onto the surface of the models to give a more realistic
appearance. To place the CGI effects into the film, the scenery was clipped where needed to
create the illusion that the dinosaurs were behind or in objects, such as trees or lakes, in a
technique that was revolutionary at the time.

12. Screen Ratios
Films are usually shot with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This is known as an anamorphic ratio. A 2.40:1 aspect ratio is also used
in film known as a widescreen ratio.
On television, a 1.77:1 (otherwise referred to as 16:9) aspect ratio is used. The same is used on the internet.
Resolution
There are four standard resolutions. Standard definition uses screen dimensions of 720x576, producing a lower-quality
image that is not favoured by most people. HD uses 1280x726, which is often used for online videos and some
television shows. Full HD uses 1920x1080, which is more commonly used for television due to its large file size.
Frame Rate
For film, it is more common to use 24fps, the minimum frame rate to create a perfect illusion of motion
For British television, 25fps is used. In America, its 30fps.
On the internet, up to 60fps can be handled.
Video Format
- MPEG4 is a method of compression of AV digital data. It can be streamed over the internet and there is less loss of
quality from compression. However, they are difficult to edit or update after they have been rendered.
- MOV or QuickTime File Format is a video file format that is compatible with QuickTime media player. It is compatible
with MPEG4 for compression and is smaller than AVI formats. However, it is not accessible fro non-Apple users.
- MPEG2 is a format that is distributed over airwaves for television viewing. It can be supported on DVDs and can
support interlaced video. However, it requires an installed coded for playback on Windows and compression is required
for videos.
Compression
Compression is the term used for when films created on computer are exported into a smaller format, often a film
format. In most cases, though, the compressed file usually loses quality overtime, so it is ideal for the film be applied to
a physical format to best preserve it.