Assignment 3: Kinetic Typography

Due: Thursday, February 2nd. Uploaded to VIMEO and added to the class website by the beginning of the class.

Kinetic Typography Definition

"Kinetic typography—the technical name for "moving text"—is an animation technique mixing motion and text to express ideas using video animation. The text is presented over time in a manner intended to convey or evoke a particular idea or emotion."

"Kinetic typography is the art of animating text to increase its impact on readers by increasing the emotive and interactive quality of the text. Text is presented over time, becoming temporal rather than static. "

Together with the audio of spoken words the appearance of the words is often synchronized with the audio. Its purpose can be, for example, to illustrate, clarify, intensify or even contradict the text/speech/interview. In a way, it's a visual interaction with spoken words using type.

Read this article

An article about Kinetic Typography patterns and principles (for UX and other disciplines). Read here.

Task

Look for an approximately 10-15 sec long audio file of spoken word. This could be an interview, a conversation from a movie, a speech, etc. Capture/record the audio so that you can use/import a digital audio file into the animation software. Quicktime offers an audio recording option, for example. Task is to create a typographic animation synchronized your audio file Use movement and appearance of the words to express, support, enhance, illustrate the spoken words. Not only the behavior/motion of the words has meaning, the kinetic quality of the background (dark/light/grey/split up...) can add meaning.

Composition Settings in After Effects:

Preset: HDV/HDTV 720 29.97
Width: 1920 px
Height: 1080 px
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square Pixels
Frame Rate: 29.97 (or 30)
Resolution: Full
Start Timecode: 0;00;00;00
Duration: 0;00;25;00 (which will result in a 25 sec timeline)
Background Color: Black (or White)

Limitations/Elements:

Font: Akzidenz Grotesk (or Helvetica if you don't have AG)
...or a Google font from this list
Background and type colors: Black and white as well as greytones/transparency
Elements: Only type, no shapes except rectangles for using Tracking Mats or Masks
Proportions of letters should stay intact throughout (temporary distortion, squeeze or stretch is okay, if needed)

Keep in mind...

Work with the basic Transformations first rather than applying (pre-designed) filters. Explore motion principles (Motion Literacy):

composition
transformations (position, scale, opacity, rotation, 3D space)
loop, rhythm, object movement vs camera movement, motion paths
timing (how long is the text visible?, how do you transition from one phrase/word/sentence to the next?)

Explore contrasts:

graphic: big small, black/white, thin/thick/, dense/sparse...
motion: slow/fast, linear/non-linear, grow/shrink, straight/curved, horizontal/vertical/, still/rotating...

Pay attention to the intonation/articulaiton/pronunciation of the spoken words and react to, emphasize it visually (big/small, thin/thick...).

Making something appear and disappear (options)

abruptly
fade in and out
draw/erase
transition in and out
move
scale (grow/shrink)
3d-rotation of a flat word/sentence
reveal/cover up
focus/blurred

I posted examples here

Capturing Audio

There are plenty of software options to capture audio from the web. The one I tried was very easy to use. The trial version limits the recording time to 5 minutes but that's more than what we need. It's called VideoProc Converter and can be downloaded for Mac or PC here

Once you have it installed click "Downloader", then "Add Video", type in the URL (YouTube etc.) and click Analyze. Then choose the "Audio Only" option and the file format. Both m4a and mp3 are compatible with After Effects. Lastly click Done and "Download Now" (using the trial version. There might be a 3 sec wait time before you can click on "continue".

You can edit/crop the Audio in After Effects or use Adobe's "Audition" for this.