Flash Overview

Flash animations are the animated graphics, web pages, or games you find on the internet.  The content is created using Adobe Flash authoring software. In addition to the web, Flash is used frequently in television productions, and can even be found in movies. 

Adding Flash to a webpage can make it more dynamic and add an increased level of interactivity.  But like all good things, Flash must be used properly, or users may find your web page over-saturated. Flash files are also much larger than standard graphics, which means you should use them wisely if you plan on sharing your content with users with a slow internet connection.

Motion Graphics Overview  

Motion graphics are similar to Flash animations, but are strictly used in television and film productions.  Because the content is not delivered over the web, motion graphics software is capable of much more powerful effects.  However, motion graphics are not interactive the way Flash can be.  The most popular motion graphics applications are Adobe After Effects and Apple Motion.

Animation Overview

Animation can be in either the traditional two-dimensional style or in 3D.  2D animation is created using software such as Flash, After Effects, or Toon Boom.  2D animation is a very slow, time-consuming process.  Be sure to budget ample time to complete a 2D animated project. 

3D animation is just as difficult as 2D and can take just as much time, but the results are much more flexible.  3D animation can be rendered out to be cartoonish, stylized, or photo-realistic.  Mastering 3D animation software is extremely difficult, plus 3D software is much more demanding on a computer system.  Some popular 3D animation packages include 3D Studio Max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Lightwave, and Cinema 4D.           

Learning Flash, Motion Graphics, and Animation

Flash, motion graphics, and animation can be very difficult skills to learn. They each require technical knowledge as well as creativity and patience. If you are serious about learning these skills, you should be prepared to spend at least a semester before you begin to see results.

There are many classes available through the ACC Visual Communications department which teach these skills.

If you would rather learn on your own, there are many online training sites you can subscribe to, such as Lynda.com, VTC, Digital Tutors, or the Gnomon Workshop.

Faculty Members

If you are a faculty member and would like to incorporate animation into a project, the staff of Instructional Development Services can help you. Please be advised that quality animation can take a long time to complete, therefore it is not recommended for projects requiring a fast turn-around or projects which will only be presented once.