Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation: Principles and Practice

Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation teaches aesthetic visual concepts and practical techniques used by today's motion graphics and animation professionals. Its cutting-edge layout and rich visuals provide a comprehensive investigation of how images and type are choreographed over time and space, providing artistic inspiration and establishing a basis for individual creative development.

Since the early 1900s, fine artists have embraced the power of animation in motion pictures. Since the late 1970s, graphic designers have explored motion in the televised medium. More recently, animation has become a powerful force in interactive digital media. Today, fine artists and graphic designers have the opportunity (and are often expected) to be animators, as well.

Inspirational and informative, this book is intended for practicing artists, graphic designers, educators, and students who are new to the incredible world of animation both independently and commercially.

This book offers an historical and critical overview of how animation has evolved as an artistic and commercial practice in film, television, and digital media. It also explores conceptual processes by which fine art animators and motion graphic designers develop creative ideas, and it investigates how aesthetic principles apply to animation.

Jon Krasner offers a thorough investigation of common processes such as frame-by-frame animation, interpolation, and compositing. In addition, he explains how designers can approach progressive phenomena, such as motion and transition, and choreograph them to enhance artistic expression and conceptual impact.

As film, television, and digital media introduce certain standards that must be honored during production, this book provides innovative solutions for overcoming the challenges often presented by these conventions.

Jon Krasner is associate professor in the Communications Media department at Fitchburg State College and coordinator of the graphic design program. Jon holds an M.F.A. in Painting from Pratt Institute and an M.F.A. in graphic design in 1994 from Boston University with a focus on digital imaging and animation. The integration of media, which is the hallmark of his work, has allowed him to synthesize the disciplines of painting, graphic design, music and motion graphics. As an educator, Jon encourages experimentation with media, exploration of concepts and sensitivity to aesthetics. As a practicing artist and professional graphic designer, his multi-disciplinary work has been exhibited nationwide.