The Universal Translator for Creatives

This means a studio has held the freelancer for an upcoming project but is not yet booked. This is challenge-able if we are ready to book. Typically, only US-based freelancers respect this system. It's understood that there's a 24-hr window that the freelancer and the studio need to allow the other party to "release" or "book." This is not always the case, so confirm with the freelancer.

2d flat design elements placed in a 3D space with a camera. Creating the illusion of 3D objects.

A second hold is similar to a first hold, but it gives the client the option to take priority over the freelancer if they are ready to book. If a freelancer is on a second hold, they should be notified as soon as possible if the client decides to book them or release the hold. Note: Freelancers may ask for a scheduling challenge to the first hold if they have another client ready to book. The studio can do the same.

A standard within contracts that requires clients and freelancers to provide a notice of relinquishing services and ceasing partnerships after 30 days."We had to give them our 30-day notice today. We'll stop providing services for them after 30 days."

Creating a digital representation of a physical object or scene using specialized software. This involves creating a 3D mesh, a collection of vertices, edges and faces that define the shape of the object or scene. The mesh can then be textured and lit to create a realistic or stylized representation of the object or scene. Modeling is an essential part of the 3D workflow and requires a solid understanding of design, composition, and aesthetics principles.

Motion design that incorporates three-dimensional elements and environments.

Associate Creative Director, often mentoring under a more senior Creative Director, an ACD can be adding to a team for additional support or as a single creative lead.

(Automated Clearing House) A system used for transferring money electronically between banks in the United States. It’s commonly used for direct deposits, bill payments, and business transactions.

Audio Video Interleave (AVI) is a multimedia file format developed by Microsoft in 1992 as part of the Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data, and they have become a popular format for storing and playing digital video on Windows-based computers.

A strong emphasis on a particular note or beat

It´s a layer that affects all of the layers below it in the timeline. An effect applied to an adjustment layer will adjust all of the layers underneath. It's a layer that can be added to a project, sitting above other layers or clips, and is used to apply various non-destructive adjustments and effects to the layers or clips below it.

It is a powerful motion graphics and visual effects software developed by Adobe Inc. It's widely used in the post-production and animation industry for creating a wide range of visual content, including motion graphics, visual effects, animations, compositing, and more.

It is a professional animation and motion capture software developed by Adobe Inc. It is designed to help create 2D character animations for a variety of media, including video, live broadcasts, interactive content, and more. Adobe Character Animator allows you to bring 2D characters to life in real-time by capturing your own movements and facial expressions using a webcam and microphone.

The After Effects artist creates visual effects and animations using After Effects. They work closely with the motion graphics designer and animator to create complex animations and visual effects that enhance the overall look and feel of the project. The After Effects artist must have a strong understanding of the software and be able to create complex animations quickly and efficiently. They work closely with the director to ensure the visual effects are consistent with the project's style and the client's goals. The After Effects artist must work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines. They may also create and maintain project files and ensure all project assets are organized and up-to-date.

The base color, or diffuse color of a material without any lighting or shading information. Used in physically based rendering to represent the true color of a surface under neutral lighting.

It is a supplementary channel of information associated with an image or video that represents the transparency or opacity of the pixels within the image or video. It is a crucial component in digital media because it allows for the compositing of multiple images or video layers, creating complex and realistic visual effects.

An ambience or soundscape is a constant background sound that relates the environment and mood being portrayed. It can be quite literal like a whistling wind or more abstract like exploring a dreamworld.

Ambient Occlusion (AO) is a shading technique used in 3D rendering to simulate how light is blocked or absorbed in tight spaces, crevices, or where objects are close to each other. It adds realistic shadowing in these areas, enhancing depth and realism in the final image.

It is a point or position within an object or layer that serves as a reference for positioning, scaling, rotating, and manipulating that object. Anchor points are used in various software applications for design, animation, and video editing to control the transformation and behavior of objects.

Typically the next step after creating a board-o-matic. Once the storyboards have been placed into an edit, they can now have animated moments to help give clarification or added emphasis to moments in the edit. It could include rough blocking, camera moves, character placements, mixed in with rough sound design and music.

This is the process of creating the illusion of motion by creating a sequence of images, or "frames," each slightly different from the one before. In traditional cartoon animation, this is often created by artists hand-drawing (or painting) each frame on transparent sheets called "cels".

The animation director oversees the animation process from start to finish. They work closely with the director to ensure that the animation meets the client's goals and is visually appealing. They collaborate with the animator and other team members to ensure that the animation is consistent with the project's visual style and meets the director's vision. The animation director provides guidance and feedback to the team to ensure that the animation is executed promptly and efficiently. They are responsible for managing the animation budget and ensuring that the animation is completed on time and within budget while maintaining the highest level of quality.

Animation presets are preconfigured sets of layer properties, effects, and expressions, which can be saved and reused in Adobe After Effects. These presets enable you to apply complex animations or effects with a single click, making it easier to achieve specific visual results and can be transferred between computers with a .ffx file extension.

The animation producer manages the animation project from start to finish. They oversee the budget, timeline, and team to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget. They work closely with the animation director and other team members to ensure the animation is executed according to the client's goals and objectives and is visually appealing. The animation producer also provides guidance and feedback to the team and helps to manage the project timeline and budget. They may pitch ideas and concepts to clients and present work to stakeholders. Overall, the animation producer plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of animation projects.

Animation principles are the fundamental guidelines that help create more realistic, appealing, and expressive motion. They include techniques such as squash and stretch, anticipation, and timing to bring characters and objects to life.

The animator brings characters and objects to life through movement. They work closely with the director to understand the vision for the project and create animations that bring that vision to reality.

A type of shading used for surfaces with directional reflection patterns. It simulates how light reflects differently based on the surface’s microscopic grooves or fibers.A concrete example of anisotropy is brushed metal, such as the surface of a stainless steel kitchen appliance or a metal watch face. When light hits brushed metal, it doesn’t reflect uniformly like it would on a smooth mirror. Instead, the reflection appears stretched or directional, following the fine grooves created by the brushing process.In 3D rendering, to achieve this effect, an anisotropic shader is used. It mimics how light behaves differently depending on the orientation of these grooves. For instance, if you look at the surface from different angles, the highlights shift and stretch along the direction of the brushing, creating that characteristic “combed” or elongated shine. This anisotropic reflection is essential for accurately rendering materials like brushed metal, hair, fabrics like satin, or even the grooves on a vinyl record.

A type of motion design project used to promote a brand or organization. It typically features a powerful, emotionally charged message set to music and incorporates various visual elements, such as live-action footage, animation, and text. Anthem videos are often used for advertising campaigns, brand launches, or other similar purposes.

A image with low AA often has harsh stairstepping on the edges of objects. AA helps create smoother edges on objects in your scene. There are various filter types for AA and each have their own pros and cons to final image quality. Area and Box are the most commonly used.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation. Anticipation refers to the concept of preparing the audience for an action before it actually occurs. This principle helps make actions feel more realistic and believable. It involves adding a preparatory movement or action to indicate that a main action is about to happen.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation. Appeal refers to the quality that makes characters, designs, and animations visually interesting and engaging to the audience. It encompasses various elements, including character design, personality, movement, and storytelling, all of which contribute to creating a connection between the viewer and the animated content.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation. In animation, an "arc" refers to the path traced by a moving object or character over time. This concept is based on the observation that most natural movements, whether performed by living creatures or inanimate objects, tend to follow curved paths rather than straight lines.

An order list of values. You can make arrays of integers, floats, strings, or vectors. Also called a Matrix in some software.

The art director oversees the design process, from concept to final execution. They work closely with the director or creative director to ensure the project is visually appealing and meets the client's goals. Art directors are great communicators. They typically have more than 2 years of experience in the field.

It describes the proportional relationship between an image or screen's width and height. Aspect ratio is typically expressed as a ratio of two numbers, where the first number represents the width, and the second number represents the height. This ratio helps define the shape and dimensions of the visual content.

A file used to help with the process of Motion Design. Refer to the various elements, files, or resources used in a project, such as images, videos, sound clips, fonts, or other creative content.

On bigger projects with multiple edits, editors sometimes work in teams to help process large volumes of footage, alternate edits, and assisting with any task the lead Editor needs.

The associate creative director is responsible for assisting the creative director in overseeing the project's creative vision. They work closely with the director, art director, and other team members to ensure that the project meets the client's goals and objectives while maintaining high quality. The associate creative director also provides guidance and feedback to the team and helps to manage the project timeline and budget. They may pitch ideas and concepts to clients and present work to stakeholders. Overall, the associate creative director plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of motion design and animation projects.

Auto Bezier keyframes create smooth transitions between keyframes by automatically adjusting the velocity and acceleration of the animation. The curves connecting the keyframes are automatically generated to create smooth movements.

Refers to when a freelancer can work on a project, considering their other existing commitments and workload. It is important to check a freelancer's availability before hiring them for a project to ensure they can deliver the work within the required timeframe.

an animated looping background to add visual interest and consistent branding

To convert a dynamic animation into a series of keyframes.

Permanently applied to a video clip. An example could be subtitles baked into the video vs closed captions that are a seperate file where the user can turn them on or off (not baked)

Often used in trailers, this is a deep, bassy sound that descends in pitch. Often used to illustrate a sense of ‘falling over the edge’, whether that be emotionally or literally.

Part of the storyboarding process for cel animation. They are visual boards and detailed notes that describe the ideas in the script. The beat boards typically happen right after the script and before the thumbnails. Beat boards got the name from story beats.

A curve used to define the path of motion or easing in an animation, allowing for precise control over acceleration and deceleration.

Bezier handles are used to adjust the curvature of the path between keyframes. By manipulating these handles, you can create more complex and custom animations, controlling the speed and smoothness of transitions.

This method involves creating detailed paths, often using Bezier curves, to define the outlines of traced objects or elements.

(aka Billing block) is the name of the cluster of credits found at the bottom of the movie poster. It typically uses a super condensed font to fit a lot of type in. There are rules set by the Writers Guild (WGA) and Directors Guild (DGA) for the billing block to be at least 15% the size of the movie title.

It refers to the amount of data processed or transmitted in a given amount of time, typically measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps). Lower bitrates generally lead to smaller file sizes.

A black list is a resource database that a studio or agency uses to store the names of freelancers whom they prefer not to work with again in the future. Freelancers could end up on this list for many reasons such as the inability to complete work on-time, speed, creative output, ghosting, communication problems, bad invoicing practices, etc...

Holding a freelancer for an extended period of time with or without a project awarded. Studios typically employ this practice to hold their favorite freelancers to staff upcoming projects. When freelancers challenge this hold, project managers have the visibility to anticipate staffing shortcomings before they happen.

A set of techniques used in digital image editing and graphic design to control how two or more layers or images interact with each other when combined. These modes determine how the colors, tones, and transparency of the top layer (or layers) affect the layers beneath them. Blending modes are commonly used in software such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and other graphic design applications. There are various blending modes, each with a unique way of combining images.

Typically, a blind consists of a visually engaging animation or graphic that is played on the screen for a short duration, usually a few seconds. During this time, the blind may feature a network or program logo, show title, or other visual elements that help maintain brand consistency and enhance the overall presentation.

A form of previsualization in which a storyboard is broken up and added to a timeline, often synced with temporary music or voiceover.

Short for Storyboards. Boards are still designs that outline the general design of a Motion Graphic sequence. Typically refers to panels or frames that depict the key scenes or shots of a story. Storyboards are a visual representation of a narrative, such as a film, video, animation, or comic, and they are used to plan and visualize how a story will unfold. Each individual panel or frame in a storyboard is often called a "board."

This step confirms that the studio wants to work with the freelancer for a specific time period.

A set of operations used to combine or subtract 3D objects to create new, complex shapes. These operations are based on Boolean algebra, which uses logical operators like "union," "difference," and "intersection".

A deep, rumbling impact.

The development of a cohesive visual identity for a network, channel, or program, including the design of logos, graphics, color schemes, and typography.

Broadcast campaigns are advertising or promotional efforts distributed through broadcast channels like television, radio, and podcasts. These campaigns are designed to reach a wide audience and typically involve creating engaging content, such as commercials or sponsored segments, aired on popular media channels. Broadcast campaigns effectively promote a large audience to a product, service, or brand. They can increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales. However, they can also be expensive, and their success depends on factors such as content quality and the media channels' reach.

It is an essential aspect of the television and film industry. It refers to the visual elements used in producing TV shows, commercials, and movies.

Making sure that the overall saturation and bright values are not getting clipped and are within range of television standards. Often applied through a utility effect in After Effects. Stems from older televisions having issues properly displaying certain intense fields of color, but still used as a way to make sure there is visual parity across screens.

Design elements that use a brush tool to simulate a stroke or stylize a layer.

A black and white image used to create height information for the surface of an object

A short animation that comes before or after a commercial break.

is a type of graphic used in broadcast design that displays information about a person or a topic in a dynamic and attention-grabbing way. The burst card typically includes a headshot, name, and additional information, such as a job title or company name. It is often used as a creative alternative to traditional lower thirds. Movies also employ burst cards to introduce a graphic novel or comic book fee.

Sometimes used interchangeably with VFX, CGI typically refers to 3D animated visuals generated entirely by computer. From small background details to all-encompassing scenes, creating CGI can be complex, requiring a full post-production team to enhance a story. Like any VFX, the best CGI is imperceptible to the audience.

The ability to take complex information from 3D and bake it out into a cache file that is often easier to read and write. Making a cache can also make sure that if working in scenes with simulations, that you can get consistent and repeatable animations.

Also known as screen left. It is used in post-production to communicate where something is on screen, especially in reference to actors or characters. An example of this would be this feedback note: "Let's change out the watch on his left wrist." The director might be referring to the character's left hand which is on the right of the screen or it could be the hand on the left of the screen. They are two different things. By specifying with "screen left" or "camera left," it is clear where the note is referring to.

Also known as screen right. It is used in post-production to communicate where something is on screen, especially in reference to actors or characters. An example of this would be this feedback note: "Let's change out the watch on his right wrist." The director might be referring to the character's right hand which is on the left of the screen or it could be the hand on the right of the screen. They are two different things. By specifying with "screen right" or "camera right," it is clear where the note is referring to.

A story that shows how a project solved a problem and made a difference. It explains what the challenge was, how the project was done, and what results it achieved.It’s like saying, “Here’s what we did, how we did it, and why it worked,” to help future clients see what you can do. Case studies are also helpful for studios and producers to understand your skillset and how you can be most effective for them by setting clear expectations about your process and capabilities.

The shadow cast by the object as it blocks light from reaching the surface below (in this case, the ground)

Patterns of light created when light rays are focused through a refractive or reflective surface, like the light patterns seen on the bottom of a pool or through glass.

It is a traditional technique where each frame is drawn by hand on a transparent sheet of acetate, known as a cel. The cels are placed on top of each other to create the illusion of movement.

When a studio wants to book a freelancer who has given a 1st Hold for those specific dates, they can issue a challenge. The studio who has the freelancer's 1st Hold has 24 hours to decide whether to book them for that time period, or release the hold and allow the challenger to book them instead.

The process of bringing animated characters to life, including rigging, bone structure, and movement.

A chord is, generally speaking, the combination of three or more musical notes played at the same time. A series of chords is called a chord progression which is often the foundation on which melody and rhythm are built. There are several types of chords, with the two most commonly understood called Major and Minor. Major chords are considered to reflect a positive mood and Minor chords a more negative mood.

A technique to replace a solid color background with another image or video.

It's a term used by streamers like Netflix, Disney+, etc... to describe a specific audience behavior - turn their service on/off depending on what content the audience is interested in watching. Streamers employ several strategies to avoid churning. One of which is by bundling many services together.

It is a powerful 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software developed by MAXON Computer GmbH. It is widely used in the fields of 3D graphics, animation, visual effects, and motion graphics to create complex and realistic 3D content for films, video games, television, architectural visualization, and more.

It´s a feature in Adobe After Effects that facilitates the integration of 3D content created in Maxon Cinema 4D, a dedicated 3D modeling and animation software, directly within the After Effects environment.

also clay rendering or claymation rendering. It's a 3D rendering technique rooted in the traditional art of sculpting. This is a part of the early stages of a project where 3D artists use it to study the layout, camera angles, and overall composition before committing to the more time-intensive render with colors, lights, and textures.

It is a type of stop motion that involves using modeling clay or plasticine to create characters and objects. The animator reshapes the clay for each frame to achieve movement.

It is the process of preparing the final animation frames for filming. This process involves removing unwanted lines or marks and ensuring the frames are properly aligned.

In cel animation, the clean-up artist is responsible for taking the rough sketches created by the animator and creating the final, cleaned-up drawings used in the final animation. They work closely with the animator to ensure that the final drawings are consistent with the animator's vision and the project's style. The clean-up artist must have a keen eye for detail and an ability to work quickly and efficiently to meet tight deadlines. They may also be responsible for making corrections and adjustments to the drawings as needed throughout the animation process.

A person or group who will exchange monetary or trade goods for services provided by the other party.

The careful process of “locking” elements in a project to prevent clients from accidentally breaking, misaligning, or deleting them. This can include grouping layers, pre-composing animations, baking, or shying layers from visibility in the timeline.Clientproofing ensures the design stays intact while still allowing clients to make safe adjustments, saving everyone from unnecessary headaches later.

It is a tool feature commonly found in graphic design and image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop. It allows users to duplicate or "clone" a specific area of an image and then paint or paste that cloned portion over another part of the image. This tool is often used for retouching and removing unwanted elements from photos or for duplicating elements within an image

An efficient way of duplication geometry in a scene , often as intances, to create complex animations.

A brand logo or production company that ends the program. Origin - is a term used in music to refer to the concluding section of a musical composition.

Short for "coder-decoder," is a software or hardware tool that is used to compress and decompress digital media, such as audio, video, and images. Codecs are essential for efficient storage, transmission, and playback of multimedia content. They work by encoding (compressing) data for storage or transmission and decoding (decompressing) it for playback or editing. Codecs are used in various applications, including video streaming, video conferencing, digital media players, video editing software, and more

It is a feature found in Adobe After Effects, a popular motion graphics and visual effects software. This feature is used to control how nested compositions and pre-compositions interact with the main composition. It is particularly useful to maintain the original resolution and quality of pre-composed elements within a larger composition.

same as Fill - is added to the cels by painting the back side of the transparent sheet with paint or ink. The color then shows through the transparent areas of the cel. Multiple cels with different levels of transparency can be layered on each other to create shading or gradients.

Color correction is the process of adjusting the colors of a video or image to improve its overall appearance and ensure consistent color representation across different devices and platforms. In broadcast design, color correction is often used to ensure that the colors of a video or graphic match the branding and style of the overall production.

The process of stylizing or enhancing the color of an image to seamlessly blend cuts together in a scene, remove unintended mistakes (e.g. overexposure of highlights) or for creative effect.

In film, compositing combines visual elements from multiple sources into a single image or sequence. This can include live-action footage, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and other special effects. Compositing creates complex visual effects, such as explosions, environments, and creatures, and seamlessly integrates live-action footage with CGI elements.

Arrangement and organization of visual elements within a moving or animated scene or sequence. It is a fundamental aspect of motion design and plays a crucial role in conveying messages, creating visual interest, and guiding the viewer's attention. Effective composition in motion design involves principles of graphic design, cinematography, and animation

The compositor combines different animation elements, such as the background, characters, and effects, into a final image or sequence. They use software and tools to create a cohesive visual composition, ensuring that the lighting, color, and other visual elements are consistent and enhance the overall look and feel of the animation. The compositor works closely with the director, animator, and other team members to ensure that the final animation meets the client's goals and objectives and is delivered on time and within budget.

A final edit combining all of the shots of a piece. Can include transition animations between shots, typography, or simply used as a way to collect all of the work from the team into 1 single file for output.

Continuous Bezier keyframes allow manual control over the shape of the curves connecting keyframes. They enable you to create custom easing and adjust the velocity and acceleration of the animation.

It is a feature in Adobe After Effects that allows vector-based layers to maintain their sharpness and quality when scaled or transformed within a composition. This is essential for maintaining the integrity of vector graphics in motion graphics and visual effects projects.

The difference between elements in a design or composition that makes them stand out from each other. In motion design, contrast can apply to various aspects like color (light vs. dark), size (large vs. small), movement (fast vs. slow), or texture (smooth vs. rough). Contrast is king when it comes to guiding the viewer's eye, creating focus, and adding visual interest to a scene.

A small logo or graphic appears in one of the corners of the screen and remains visible throughout a program or segment. It is often used for branding purposes.

The creative director is responsible for overseeing the overall creative vision of the project, ensuring that the project is executed visually, compellingly, and effectively. They work closely with the art director to ensure the project's visual style is consistent and cohesive. The creative director also provides guidance and feedback to the team to ensure the project meets the client's goals and objectives. They are responsible for ensuring that the project is delivered on time and within budget while maintaining the highest level of quality.

A layout of credits at the end of a TV program or film. Often times, a credit bed will take up the entire screen but not always. Other times, the credit bed could be a lower-third or half-screen.

The list of names and roles of the people who contributed to a media piece, usually displayed at the end of a movie or TV show. The title sequence may also include opening credits, which are displayed at the beginning of the movie or show and typically feature the main actors and production crew. The design of credits can vary widely, from simple text scrolling to elaborate animations and graphics.

Where music or sound builds in unison to a loud peak, usually to illustrate the height of the physical or emotional subject. For example an increase in danger, love, altitude or intensity.

Cryptomatte is a tool used in compositing to create automatic ID mattes from 3D scenes. It generates precise masks for different objects, materials, or layers, making it easier to isolate and manipulate specific elements in post-production without the need for manual masking.

A rendering technique used typically for optimization that removes objects and or polygons that aren’t visible in camera. For example, backface culling removes polygons facing away from the camera.Culling reduces the computational load and improves performance.

It uses two-dimensional characters and objects made from paper, fabric, or other flat materials. The pieces are moved incrementally to create motion.

Digital-out-of-home (DOOH) refers to digital billboards that you see in Times Square, airports, along the freeway, or even at bus stops. Traditional OOH is a printed waterproof canvas. DOOH is typically LED screens that can display static and video content.

A DOP lookbook is a collection of images and visual references that a Director of Photography (DOP) puts together to illustrate their vision for the visual style of a film or video project. It may include photographs, sketches, color palettes, and other visual references that help communicate the desired look and feel of the project. The lookbook can guide the production's lighting, camera angles, and other visual elements to achieve a cohesive and consistent visual style.

The DXV3 codec is a video format developed by Resolume for real-time playback in live visuals and VJ performances. It’s optimized for GPU acceleration, allowing smooth performance even with high-resolution content, and uses intra-frame compression so each frame is processed independently for instant scrubbing and triggering. DXV3 also supports alpha channels for transparency and is typically packaged in a .mov container, making it ideal for compositing visuals during live shows.

Refers to the amount a motion design freelancer charges for one full day of work. This rate can vary depending on experience, skill level, and location. It is important to consider the day rate when budgeting for a project and negotiating with a freelancer.

The aftermath of an explosion or physical force and usually indicative of the materials in play, like glass, stone or wood. The sound of smaller objects or materials hitting a surface.

Ways of affecting meshes / objects in a procedural way in your scene. The most common types are Bend, Twist and FFD (Lattices)

One of several pieces of a project that the client requests. Could be any type of media, but is a specific type of media that either the client asks for, or the designer states that they will deliver, usually in a Statement of Work as part of a set of deliverables. This is often referring to the final output of the project.

A short video compilation showcasing an artist's best work, skills, and style, typically used to attract clients, employers, or collaborators in motion design, animation, and video production.A demo reel usually includes highlights from past projects, focusing on quality over quantity, and is tailored to the type of work or audience being targeted. It’s like a visual résumé that communicates what you’re capable of in under 2 minutes.

It is a creative tool in photography and cinematography that allows one to control what is in focus and what is blurred in images. It can be used to isolate subjects, create artistic effects, and convey a sense of space and context. The choice of aperture, focal length, and other factors allows one to manipulate depth of field to achieve artistic and storytelling goals.

A design guide or style guide, is a set of rules, standards, and guidelines that govern the visual and creative aspects of a motion design project. It serves as a reference document to ensure consistency and coherence in the design, animation, and overall execution of the project.

A design stack refers to the collection of tools, software, and resources a designer regularly uses to bring creative ideas to life. It’s essentially your personal toolkit—made up of programs for layout, animation, prototyping, editing, and more—chosen and refined over time to fit your workflow, preferences, and creative style. Just like a tech stack for developers, your design stack is the backbone of how you create, iterate, and deliver visual work.

An artist often working with the creative leads to explore concepts and ideation for projects. Often creating style frames that help the team achieve a unifed visual direction.

Diagetic sound is created from within the boundaries of the film world. For example, the sound of a door opening off-screen.

Non-diagetic sound is created outside of the film world; the film characters are unable to hear it. For example, a musical soundtrack is often non-diagetic.

Used in films to develop characters and plot. A dialog is typically a conversation between two or more people.

The base color layer of an object, also called the Albedo

Where music or sound decreases in loudness and intensity, usually to illustrate a release in the physical or emotional subject. For example, a decrease in threat or amount.

The director is responsible for the overall vision of the project. They work closely with the team to ensure that the project meets the client's goals and is visually appealing. In Motion Design projects, the Director and the Creative Director could be the same person.

Or disk cache memory, is a storage database that holds temporary files used to playback and render Motion Graphic sequences. Disk cache works by temporarily storing frequently accessed data or metadata in a faster and more accessible part of the storage system, typically in RAM (Random Access Memory)

A texture technique that alters the actual geometry of a surface by using height data, creating detailed surface variations like bumps or cracks that physically change the mesh.

Dolly Move (Push-In/Out): A camera movement where the entire camera physically moves closer to or farther from the subject, creating a smooth "push-in" or "pull-out" effect. Unlike a zoom, where the lens adjusts to magnify or reduce the subject, a dolly move adds a sense of depth and realism by shifting the camera's position in space.

A type of advertisement where the beginning and end sections (the "pre" and "end cards") are identical, while the middle section changes. This format is commonly used in ongoing campaigns to quickly and affordably raise brand awareness while updating the message or featured content regularly.For example, a donut ad might always start and end with the same logo and tagline but swap out the middle to showcase different products, promotions, or calls to action.

A timeline representation that displays keyframes and their timing for all properties of an object, allowing for precise control over animation.

A constant, dissonant sound, usually mid to low pitch. Can be diagetic as, for example, the drone of a passenger plane or non-diagetic as, say, a sense of dread.

Popular and powerful script-based toolset for rigging and animation in Adobe After Effects. It's primarily used to create complex character rigs, automate animations, and simplify the animation process within After Effects. Duik is known for its versatility and ability to streamline character animation workflows.

Dynamics refers to the variation in loudness in instrumental performance or even of a soundtrack as a whole. It is another dimension in expressing emotion through music and sound. For example you might boost loudness to lift a chorus or reduce loudness to bring the listener in for more intimate moments. Modern audio production tends to flatten out dynamic range (where the sound is roughly the same volume throughout) to adhere to loudness standards and multi-device optimisation. However the live performance of an orchestra utilises a huge dynamic range (where the difference between the loudest and quietest parts is vast) to invoke more power and emotion.

A method to simulate physics based motion for 3d objects. Used for cloth, rigid bodies, and even placing objects into your 3d scene. Often calculating the bounding boxes / hulls of meshes to create interactions between objects

A branch of Motion Graphics to the use of physics-based simulations and animations to create realistic and natural-looking movements and interactions within a visual composition.Dynamicss are used to simulate the behavior of physical objects, forces, and environmental conditions, adding depth, realism, and visual interest to animations.

"Easing" refers to the concept of adding acceleration or deceleration to the motion of an animated object, typically at the beginning and/or end of the animation, to make it appear more natural and visually appealing. Easing is used to create smooth transitions between different keyframes or poses in an animation.

The direction and intentionality behind edges on a mesh. Depending on the final output and use, edge flow and toplogy can be very important to real time applications, character deformations, and creating uniform surface animations. Most artist work in Quads or Tris depending on the final output and carefully construct their toplogy to create the most efficentuse of polygons.

Artist responsible for creating the final edit often in premiere, avid or final cut. Can be instrumental in finding the best takes, shots, timings and pacing of a piece.

Essential Properties provide quick access to layer and effect properties within nested compositions in After Effects, saving time in complex animations. They allow you to override and reuse compositions with different values while keeping the source composition intact. Your edits affect instances, simplifying rendering.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation. Exaggeration refers to the act of amplifying specific parts of a character or object's visual look, movement, or actions. It is used to emphasize emotion, action or traits to push the boundaries of what would be realistic or expected.

It is a short, engaging, and informative video that is designed to explain a concept, product, service, or idea in a simple and easily understandable way. These videos are commonly used for various purposes, including marketing, education, training, and communication.

A type of motion design project that aims to explain a product, service, or process concisely and engagingly. It typically combines animated visuals, narration, and sound effects to communicate complex information to a target audience. Explainer videos are often used in marketing and advertising to promote products or services. Still, they can also be used for educational purposes or to provide instructions on using a product or service.

An expression is small piece of JavaScript code that you can plug into animated properties in your After Effects projects, to create and link complex animations while avoiding the need to manually create dozens or even hundreds of keyframes.

short for "For Placement Only." This is used in rough edits to show that the asset being labeled is not yet final.

Frames Per Second - The number of individual frames displayed per second in a video or animation. Higher FPS results in smoother motion, while lower FPS can create a choppier, more stylized look.For example:23.976 FPS (often called 24 FPS in NTSC): The standard for movies, creating a cinematic and immersive feel.29.97 FPS (often called 30 FPS in NTSC): Popular for TV broadcasts and online videos, providing smoother and more natural motion.59.94+ (often called 60 FPS in NTSC) FPS: Used for ultra-smooth motion in gaming, sports broadcasting, or creating detailed slow-motion shots.In classic animation, lower frame rates often used a technique called "animating on 2s," where a single drawing is held for two frames instead of one. This effectively reduces the animation's frame rate to 12 FPS while maintaining a smooth, hand-drawn aesthetic, saving time and effort in production.

Futuristic User Interface. This is typically found in sci-fi movies and shows. The key tenet of FUI design is a demonstration of functionality.

In animation, this term usually refers to any kind of visual special effect added to the scene to enhance its visual impact. Examples could include things like rain, snow, fire, sparkles, explosions, shadows, highlights, transformations, and more. These effects can be created using various techniques including traditional hand-drawn methods, or more modern digital methods.

A sales rep who confidently steps into the role of a producer without having the knowledge, skills, or authority to back it up. Often found giving creative feedback, making unrealistic promises, or trying to manage production timelines without fully understanding the process. While well-intentioned, a fauxducer can inadvertently cause confusion, delays, or extra work for the actual production team. Example usage: "The fauxducer promised the client a 3D animation overnight... again."

A tongue-in-cheek game where creatives spot classic, vague client comments during a project review. Examples include gems like:“Make it pop!”“Can we add some wow factor?”“I’ll know it when I see it.”“Can you make the logo bigger?”“It’s almost there, but something’s missing.”Winning Feedback Bingo doesn’t come with a prize—just the bittersweet validation that this project will someday, hopefully, if you're lucky, end.

Translates as pause. Holding a note or silence for an undefined period of time, at the discretion of the performer.

The organized way files and folders are arranged within a project. In motion design, a good file structure keeps everything tidy and easy to find, reducing confusion and saving time during edits or handoffs to teammates.A typical file structure might include folders for assets (images, audio, footage), project files, renders, and exports. Clear naming conventions and logical organization are key to ensuring your workflow stays efficient and your project stays stress-free.

It is another term used in cel animation to describe filling in an area's color. This can be done by painting or using a fill tool in digital software. Depending on the desired effect, the fill can be solid or have a gradient.

Fixing the imperfection/error of a shot during the post-production process. It might be a practical solution if it's impossible to get the perfect result the clients want during the filming; but most of the time, it ends up spending more money and more time in one shot, and don't have enough money or time to make the rest better.. Get the shot right on set, and spend the post-production time/money wisely to make the spots or films or shorts or whatever piece you are working on better.

A set price agreed upon for a project, regardless of how much time is spent completing it. This rate can be based on the estimated time required or the value delivered.With a flat rate, the amount charged doesn’t change if the project takes more or less time than expected, providing predictability for both the client and the creator.

Sound effects, often performed and recorded by Foley Artists, that relate to human movement, clothing, footsteps, physical objects and everyday items

One of the 12 Principles of Animation, coupled with overlapping action. Follow through refers to the parts of an object or character that continue moving after the main action has stopped. It helps convey a sense of weight and realism.

Translates as loud-quiet. A type of accenting; play one note loud and the next one quiet, and so on.

Also check out "Pixel Fucking" - When a producer or client wants you to make an infinitesimal change, like move a cut a frame or two forward or back, or move some text up or down by a few pixels. The result achieves nothing except to stroke the ego of the person who asked for the change and they can feel like they made a contribution. The other result is to completely annoy the artist tasked with the change.

The number of frames in 1 second. Film and animation often work in 24 frames per second, Broadcast tradtional works in 23.976 and 30 fps. Video games and realtime rendering often work at 60fps and higher.

A traditional animation technique where each frame is drawn or created manually to achieve a specific look or style.

A shading phenomenon where the amount of reflectivity on a surface changes based on the angle of view.In 3D rendering and shading, the Fresnel Effect is used to simulate this phenomenon, particularly for materials like glass, water, metals, and other reflective surfaces. By adjusting the reflectivity based on the angle of incidence (the angle between the viewer and the surface), the Fresnel Effect helps create more realistic and dynamic surfaces.

Outputs from artificial intelligence and language learning models designed to produce visual elements from sample bases composed of existing visual elements.Also known as Generative AI.

An artist who doesn't specifically focus on one single role on a team, instead can serve in multiple roles.

When someone or a group ceases communication and activity without warning."They accepted our pitch, but will not return emails or calls. Looks like they ghosted us."

Translates as gliding. Sliding from one note to another and essentially playing every note in-between, as opposed to playing each note discretely.

A choppy, noisy, distorted sound reminiscent of defective electrical equipment.

Lighting your 3D scene with path tracing to simulate the way light bounces off objects and surfaces in the real world.

Similar to stop motion, but more realistic due to the application of motion blur, achieved by moving the models slightly during exposure. Sometimes this is achieved through a series of complex rods connected to a computer for precise movement, and sometimes it is achieved by flicking or nudging the model so that it vibrates.

A gobo is an object placed inside or in front of a light source to control the shape of the emitted light and its shadow.

For studio photography purposes, the term "gobo" has come to refer to any device that casts a shadow, and various pieces of equipment that go in front of a light (such as a gobo arm or gobo head).

In theatrical lighting, however, the term more specifically refers to a device placed in "the gate" or at the "point of focus" between the light source, called a lamp, and the lenses (or other optics).

The exact derivation of the term gobo is unclear, although it appears to have originated in cinema studios in the 1930s. It may be an American slang abbreviation of "go-between", or "go-before" (just as New York's "SoHo" signifies the area "South of Houston Street").

Some lighting professionals believe that it is an acronym for "goes before optics" or, less often, "goes between optics"

A gobo is an object placed inside or in front of a light source to control the shape of the emitted light and its shadow. For studio photography purposes, the term "gobo" refers to any device that casts a shadow and various pieces of equipment that go in front of a light (such as a gobo arm or gobo head). In theatrical lighting, however, the term more specifically refers to a device placed in "the gate" or at the "point of focus" between the light source, called a lamp, and the lenses (or other optics). The exact derivation of the term gobo is unclear, although it appears to have originated in cinema studios in the 1930s. It may be an American slang abbreviation of "go-between", or "go-before" (just as New York's "SoHo" signifies the area "South of Houston Street"). Some lighting professionals believe that it is an acronym for "goes before optics" or, less often, "goes between optics."

A gradual transition between two or more colors or shades. Gradients are commonly used in design to create depth, dimension, or a smooth blend of colors. They can transition linearly (in a straight line), radially (spreading outward from a central point), or in other custom patterns to achieve various visual effects.

A tool in animation software that provides a graphical representation of how properties change over time, often used to fine-tune animations.

A technique where a specific color (often green or blue) is replaced with another image or video during post-production, commonly used in compositing.

It´s a visual layout structure used to organize and align elements within a composition. Grids provide a framework for arranging text, images, graphics, and other design elements in a way that is visually pleasing, balanced, and easy to understand

Also known as AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is a widely used video compression standard. It is one of the most commonly used codecs for video compression and is utilized in various applications. H264 is typically only used when uploading a

video to the web.

High Dynamic Range

Based on the psychological term "Halo effect," Halo Marketing refers to the strategy to get a positive impression of a product, movie, or TV show at launch time for people who might have seen or heard of said product, movie, or TV show.

It´s a tool that allows to navigate the workspace or canvas by moving it around, similar to panning. It's a fundamental tool for interacting with and exploring projects, especially when working on larger or zoomed-in compositions.

A harmony is when two or more voices, instruments or sounds of a different pitch play at the same time. The combination of different sound sources and pitches create different harmonies and result in a different emotional output.

A “hold” means an employer has the right to book you first before you take a job anywhere else. If you get “challenged” by another company to book you for the same time, you have to go to the company “holding” you and ask them to decide. They have 24 hours to decide if they want to turn their “hold” into an official “booking” (which means they are obligated to hire/pay you). If they can’t book you, they’ll “release” you, and you’ll become “booked” at the other company. Here's a great resource on how this works.

A hold frame is a special type of keyframe that holds or "freezes" animation until the next keyframe.

Hold keyframes freeze a property at a specific value until the next keyframe. They create a sudden change or pause in animation, maintaining a constant value until the next keyframe is reached.

Also known as keyboard shortcuts, are essential tools in motion design software. They allow designers and animators to work more efficiently by quickly executing common commands without the need to navigate through menus or use the mouse. The availability and customization of hotkeys may vary depending on the motion design software.

It´s a powerful 3D animation and visual effects software application developed by SideFX that offers incredible flexibility and control over complex 3D animations and simulations.

Inverse Kinematics, a type of limited motion in 3d characters to create connection between multiple joints / bones in a rig. Often used for Legs and arms to calcuate human like movements.

The illustrator creates original illustrations and graphics for motion design and animation projects. They use their creativity and artistic skills to create unique visual elements that help to bring the project to life.

A sudden, dynamic sound that can illustrate a jump scare, an object collision or a notable event. Usually imbued with the weight of the moment or the materials involved.

It is the process of creating the frames that fill in the gaps between the keyframes. This process helps to create a smoother animation.

A type of animation easing that mimics the bounce or recoil effect after an object comes to a stop.

A short video or animation that plays between two longer pieces of content, such as TV shows or movies. They are often used to provide a transition between different types of content, such as a commercial break or a change in programming.

Invoicing software generates billing for services and products. Helps to keep track of invoices and remind clients of due dates.

Jib: A camera movement where the camera moves vertically in digital space, mimicking the motion of a real-world "jib crane." Often paired with a "tilt" to maintain focus on the subject, this technique creates smooth, dynamic vertical movment, adding perspective and depth to a shot.

Typographic term used in graphic design, typography, and word processing to describe the adjustment of the spacing between specific pairs of characters in a text. It is a critical aspect of typography, as it ensures that the spacing between individual characters in a word or line of text is visually balanced and pleasing to the eye. Kerning is typically used to fine-tune the spacing between letters and is particularly important for improving legibility and the overall aesthetics of text.

A keyframe is a frame in an animation where a specific element is given a certain value, such as position, scale, or opacity.

It is a term used in cel animation to describe the most important frames of a sequence. These frames are drawn to provide the foundation for the rest of the animation.

The method by which animation software calculates the motion between two keyframes, such as linear, bezier, or smooth interpolation.

Kinetic type, also known as "moving type," is a form of motion design that involves animating text to convey meaning and emotion. It can be used in various contexts, such as video titles, advertising, and social media content. Kinetic type can be combined with other design elements like graphics and sound to create dynamic and engaging content.

Loudness, K-weighted, relative to full scale. A unit of measurement of audio loudness over time intended to standardize loudness across various forms of audio distribution.

Look-Up Table - Preset file used to apply specific color grading or adjustments to footage or images. In motion design, LUTs help achieve consistent color tones and styles quickly, saving time during color correction and grading.LUTs are especially handy when working with cameras that record in a log format, which captures a flat, low-contrast image to preserve detail. Applying a LUT transforms the flat footage into a more vibrant and balanced look, making it easier to preview and finalize the desired style.

A separate level or plane within a composition that can contain images, text, or other elements. Layers are often used to organize and composite different elements in motion design.

the process of defining the scene or sequences using drawn or computer-generated frames. The layout stage decides the positioning, movement, and scale of characters and objects in the scene. It's the conceptual blueprint of an animation sequence, working out the staging, camera shots (angle and framing), and perspective of the scenes.

Lead Animators are team members that oversee the animation team on projects. They guide the overall style and quality, check the work of the animation team, and work closely with directors and other team members to ensure everything stays on schedule. Lead Animators bring the vision of the project to life and assist with technical and creative issues that other animators might face. They are both leaders and mentors, ensuring all animation meets the goals of each project. In long-form animation and movies, the term Lead Animator is commonly used. However, in the motion design and commercial animation industries, an equivalent title is often Animation Director. This distinction exists due to Director’s Guild Association (DGA) guidelines, which restrict the use of the title “Director” to DGA members in long-form animation.

The vertical spacing between lines of text, measured from baseline to baseline. In motion design and typography, leading affects the readability and overall appearance of multi-line text.

Translates as tied or bound. Longer, smooth notes with no pauses between them.

Also called Light Selects, rendering out each contribution of lights in your scene to adjust in post

In animation, a linear keyframe is a type of keyframe that creates a constant change in motion between two points. This means that the object being animated will move at a constant rate from one position to another, without any easing or acceleration. Linear keyframes are often used for simple animations or to create a sense of consistency in motion.

A type of video recording format that captures a flat, low-contrast image with minimal color saturation. This format is used to preserve as much detail as possible in highlights and shadows, giving editors maximum flexibility for color grading during post-production.Log footage might look dull and gray out of the camera, but it’s designed to be enhanced later with tools like LUTs, which bring the colors and contrast back to life. It’s particularly useful in professional workflows where achieving a specific look or mood is important.

An animated version of a company or brand's logo.

The final arrangement of a logo and any supporting elements—like a tagline, website, legal, or social handles—displayed at the end of a video or ad. This lockup ensures the brand’s message is clear, visually balanced, and consistent across different spots. For example, the logo might appear centered on the end card with the website and tagline stacked neatly below it.

An eye-catching and short animation of a network logo that typically opens or closes a program. It reinforces brand recognition and increases credibility amongst viewers. The typical length is 5 seconds or less. It could have transition in/out effects but not a requirements.

Look Development (LookDev) is the process of creating the visual appearance of a 3D digital asset or scene. It involves 3D modeling; refining textures, materials, and shaders; and setting up lighting to achieve the desired look. LookDev artists work closely with concept artists and art directors, as well as refine clay animations produced by animators or 3D motion designers. LookDev is a major stage in the CG pipeline and usually follows the completion of modeling and animation. It serves as a bridge between modeling and final rendering, ensuring visual consistency and realism.

Creating an animation that seamlessly repeats itself, often used in animations for websites or social media.

Multiplatform Low-weight vector animation format. Primarily used in websites, mobile apps(iOS, Android), AR/VR and games. Can include images, interactive elements. Animation is typically created in After effects, Rive, Figma and exported in lottie format (files ending with .json, .lot). Useful for infographics (can be updated with dynamic data), long loops, character animation, crisp lines, clean gradients, responsive designs (or big screens), interactive learning content. Actively developing, enhancing with API + Ai. At the intersection of UX design, motion design, game development and front-end coding.

A modular graphic design element tied to the overall branding that allows the editorial team to insert information at the bottom of screen. Often with no fly zones for logos and any important stationary graphics

Some software tools offer "magnetic" or assisted rotoscoping features that automatically snap to the edges of objects, making the process more efficient.

The title sequences are at the beginning and end of the movie.

Translates as marked. Essentially the combination of Accent and Staccato, where the note is emphasised and played in an abrupt / short manner.

Pop-up customizable contextual menus in the 3D application Autdesk Maya

A technique used to hide or reveal parts of an object or scene during an animation, often achieved with shapes or layers.

In film editing, a match cut is a transition from one shot to another where the composition of the two shots matches in terms of action, subject, or subject matter.

In animation and motion design, a match cut can be visualized as a shape or visual element that maintains the same size, position, and animation timing.

In film editing, a match cut is a transition from one shot to another where the composition of the two shots matches in terms of action, subject, or subject matter.In animation and motion design, a match cut can be visualized as a shape or visual element that maintains the same size, position, and animation timing.

A linear sequence of notes or chords that often characterise a musical piece. A melody can take centre stage in a larger musical piece as a ‘lead’ or even become synonymous with brand identity as a short simple motif. A melody can be considered fundamentally as a combination of pitch and rhythm.

The final deliverable for audio combining all dialog, voiceovers, music, and sound effects in one audio file

A short sound, melody, or audio cue used to represent a brand and make it instantly recognizable. It’s like the audio version of a logo. In motion design and advertising, mnemonics are often paired with a logo animation or end card to reinforce the brand's identity.

A moiré pattern or moiré effect is an optical illusion caused by a tight pattern of repeating elements such as lines, dots, or grids that, when close together at a certain angle, create an illusion of a wavy effect. This effect is often seen in photography or videography on fabrics but can be seen in motion design as well.

A collection of digital and/or physical visual (even audio) references, usually done at the early stages of a project, that communicate a set of attributes that inspire its style and feeling.

Morphing in motion design is a technique where one shape transforms into another. This is achieved by two ways. Either by creating a sequence of intermediate frames that smoothly transition between the initial and final shapes, giving the illusion of fluid transformation or by copying the paths of one shape to the other.

Morphing in animation is a technique where one shape transforms into another. This is achieved by creating a sequence of intermediate frames that smoothly transition between the initial and final shapes, giving the illusion of fluid transformation or by copying the paths of one shape to the other. This should not be confused with tweening, which is to create intermediate images to create the illusion of movement.

A modular graphic design element tied to the overall branding of the program that has a place to drop in footage. Most often used for showing "previously on" and "upcoming" moments of the program.

A visual effect that makes moving objects look slightly blurry, just like they do in real life when they move fast. In motion design, motion blur makes animations look smoother and more natural, instead of sharp and stiff.It’s commonly used to show speed and movement, helping your designs feel more lifelike and less robotic.

The process of recording real-world movements and applying them to digital characters or objects to achieve lifelike animation.

It is a subset of graphic design that involves creating animated visual designs, usually for digital media. It encompasses a range of design elements, such as typography, illustration, and animation, to create visually compelling and engaging content.

Motion graphics is a type of animation that combines graphic design elements with animation to create visually compelling videos.

The motion graphics designer creates visual elements such as typography, illustrations, and icons to enhance the overall look and feel of the project. They work closely with the designer to ensure the project's visual style is consistent and cohesive.

MoGRTs are an Adobe technology that enables motion designers to create animated templates in After Effects that editors can be used in Premiere Pro.

The trajectory or route that an object follows during an animation. Motion paths can be linear or curved.

A neural radiance field is a method based on deep learning for reconstructing a three-dimensional representation of a scene from sparse two-dimensional images. Often used to create a point cloud like effect from multiple images to represent them dimensionally

Non-photorealistic Rendering. A way to create stylized renders that don't always follow the rules of tradtional photorealstic render engines. C4D has Sketch and Toon, Maya has a toon engine, and Redshift is also developing a toon based rendering engine.

National Television System Committee - A video standard used in the United States, Canada, Japan, and parts of South America. It runs at 29.97 FPS, which is slightly slower than 30 FPS. NTSC is the foundation for other frame rates like 23.976 FPS (used for movies) and 59.94 FPS (used for smoother HD video). It’s different from systems like PAL, which is used in Europe and has a different frame rate.

A standardized way of naming files and folders to keep a project organized and easy to navigate. In motion design, using clear and consistent naming conventions helps prevent confusion, speeds up workflows, and makes it easier to collaborate with others.For example, naming a file "Logo_Animation_v01.aep" instead of "Final_Final2.aep" ensures everyone knows what the file is and its version. A good naming convention often includes details like the project name, content type, and version number.

Is a term used on invoices to represent when the payment is due, in contrast to the date that the goods/services were delivered. When you see “net 30” on an invoice, it means that the client can pay up to 30 calendar days (not business days) after they have been billed. Net 30, 60 and 90 are general business terms. The motion design industry standard is Net 30.

Areas of the screen that are protected for specific elements of the show, often for partner logos, marketing or program logos.

A graphical interface method of adding effects and adjustments to visual components based on linking compatible effects and directing the output.

Is a legal contract between two or more parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to or by third parties. An NDA creates a confidential relationship between the parties to protect any type of confidential and proprietary information or trade secrets. This type of agreement is common in business relationships where sensitive information is exchanged, such as between a company and potential investors, or between a business and a contractor or consultant.

An RGB image created to tell the surface of a mesh which direction the normals are facing. Sometimes high res meshes are baked into maps like Normal Maps to transfer high density detail to lower polygon meshes.

The act of moving a creative task (keyframe, position, start/end points, etc) by approximately 3 clicks. Examples: “Nudge that circle a bit to the right”“Nudge that transition back a bit”

Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines. Nurbs are like vector data in that they can have infinte resolution and often used when working in procedural workflows.

Open Media Format/Framework - A file format in which video editors can export audio from their editing software. This allows them to fully convey their individual audio tracks and audio edits in ways that would not be possible with stems alone.

OTS is short for Over-The-Shoulder graphics. This is used in news broadcast design to describe a graphic that appears next to the newscaster. It acts as a visual aid for the subject matter being discussed.

OTS is short for Over-The-Shoulder graphics. This is used in news broadcast design to describe a graphic that appears next to the newscaster. It acts as a visual aid for the subject matter being discussed.

A way to visualize concave and convex areas of a mesh in a grayscale map. Can add extra detail to meshes based on their distance and angle to itself and other meshes. Also called Ambient Occlusion.

An octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another double its frequency. The next octave up from concert A (also known as A4) at 440Hz starts at A5 at 880Hz.

This is the process that comes after a booking and before the freelancer starts working. This includes all the paperwork needed - official booking email, W-9 form filled and signed, NDA form signed. Connect the freelancer with the project producer.

Refers to the number of frames exposed per drawing. "Ones" is smoother but more time-consuming, while "Twos" is more cost-effective and less smooth, it can be further shortened to Threes or Fours and can achieve a snappier "stop-motion" visual effect. Usage: "Animate this on 2s."

It is a technique used in cel animation to help animators see the previous and upcoming frames as they draw. This technique helps to ensure consistency in the animation.

The degree of transparency or visibility of an object. Animating opacity can make objects appear or disappear gradually

A title sequence or Title Treatment at the beginning of a show or promotional package.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation, coupled with follow through. Overlapping Action refers to the principle that different parts of a character move at different rates. It adds a sense of subtlety and/or complexity to main movements.

A video standard used in most of Europe, Australia, parts of Asia, and Africa. PAL runs at 25 FPS and typically has a resolution of 625 scan lines, giving it slightly better image quality than NTSC.The frame rate of PAL matches the power frequency in many regions (50 Hz), making it a better fit for electrical systems outside North America. While PAL provides smooth motion and vibrant colors, it’s not directly compatible with NTSC systems, requiring conversion for playback in regions using different standards.

Also known as file package or project package - To clean up a project and collect files for the next animator to access or complete a project

A hierarchy system in animation where one object (the parent) controls the movement and properties of another object (the child).

A technique used to simulate and animate a large number of small objects (particles) to create effects like fire, smoke, or rain.

How many days will it take to get paid. Payment and terms will vary and depend on each company's conditions. However, the freelancer may also set these terms out in their quotes and invoices. This is usually expressed as Net 30, Net 45, Net 60, etc.

Payoff key art is the final key art to represent the movie or show. It is considered the most critical asset in the marketing toolkit. The payoff key art becomes the movie poster, the header image for the movie or show on the streaming platform, OOH, and many other collaterals.

"Pencil" is a synonym of "hold", widely used in the UK market. See "hold" definition for more information on how it works. Example: "You're penciled in for this project."

The perceived high or low tone of a sound. Pitch changes according to sound frequency, with lower frequencies producing low pitch and higher frequencies producing high pitch. Specific pitches or frequencies are assigned a letter (or note), for example concert A is 440Hz. Concert A is the basis for ‘concert pitch’ tuning which ensures all instruments within an ensemble are in tune with each other. Concert pitch is not the only tuning standard but can be considered the modern default.

The process of creating treatments for a prospective client in a bid to try and win a project. Pitching can be competitive against other companies, usually the agency / client will ask 3 studios / creatives for a pitch. Everyone job is unique and not every pitch is equal, but they can include everything from design, storyboards, written treatments, and style frames.

Pitching is the process of creating treatments for a prospective client in a bid to win a project. Pitching can be competitive against other companies. Usually, the agency/client will ask 3 studios/creatives for a pitch. Every job is unique, and not every pitch is equal, but pitches can include everything from design to storyboards, written treatments, and style frames.

When someone pays way too much attention looking at minute details. For example, when examining the grain of a composite element to make sure it matches the film stock. Someone who pixel-fucks pays more attention to tiny details than the overall effectiveness of the shot.

When someone pays way too much attention looking at minute details. For example, when examining the grain of a composite element to make sure it matches the film stock. Someone who pixel-fucks pays more attention to tiny details than the overall effectiveness of the shot.

A graphics delivery method for multiple screens within a single video file. Different rectangle areas are designated to be mapped to individual screens using a media server. This is often used with live events and experiential settings.

A graphics delivery method for multiple screens within a single video file. Different rectangle areas are designated to be mapped to individual screens using a media server. This is often used with live events and experiential settings.

Translates as pinched. String instruments are plucked rather than bowed, giving a more delicate, singular sound.

A playblast is a tool used to quickly preview an animation without requiring the time needed for a formal render. It provides a realistic idea of the final render result by generating a low-resolution and fast playback of the animation. Playblasts are commonly used to check character and prop positioning, lighting placement, and overall scene composition.

A plugin is a software component or add-on that extends the functionality of a larger program, such as After Effects or a non-linear editing software. In motion graphics, plugins are often used to add new features, effects, or tools that enhance the capabilities of the software and streamline the workflow. Plugins can provide additional effects, transitions, or controls to create complex animations or automate certain tasks.

A plugin is an external component that extends the functionality of existing software by introducing specific features or functions. These extensions are typically created by third-party developers, rather than the original software creators, such as Adobe.

The explicit order of vertices on a mesh. Can become very important when transferring data between multiple meshes to create accurate information between the two meshes

Translates as carried. Essentially the combination of Staccato and Legato and usually applied to stringed instrument performance, where notes are smooth, pulsating and accented by the bowing of the instrument.

One of the 12 Principles of Animation. Pose-to-pose animation is a technique used by animators to create motion by planning out key poses or keyframes at specific points in the animation sequence, and then filling in the in between frames after. In this method, the animator starts by sketching or defining the key poses that convey the main actions or movements of the character or object being animated. Pose-to-pose animation is often used for scenes requiring precise timing, complex movements, or specific storytelling beats, such as character performances, dialogue sequences, or action sequences. The opposite technique to pose-to-pose animation is straight ahead animation, and either technique is usually chose based on an animator's personal preference.

Short for "pre-composition," a pre-comp is a group of layers bundled together into a single composition within After Effects. This grouped composition can then be treated as a single layer in the main project, making it easier to organize, apply effects, or animate multiple elements at once. Pre-comps are a powerful tool for streamlining complex projects.

The process of rendering specific parts of a project, like a pre-comp or complex effect, into a video file to reduce the workload during playback or the final render.For example, a heavy particle system can be pre-rendered as a video and then imported back into the composition. This approach saves processing power and speeds up workflows, but you lose the ability to make changes to the pre-rendered element unless you go back to the original composition.

Creating rough, low-fidelity animations or storyboards to plan and visualize the final animation sequence.

The producer manages the project from start to finish. They oversee the budget, timeline, and team to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.

**A promo campaign** is a marketing strategy to generate attention and buzz for a product or brand. Companies often use them to build brand awareness and engage with their target audience. The campaign can include elements such as a unique logo, a color palette, typography, and icons. A promo package can be created to include a promo bug, original series promo bug, top tag, transition, interstitial, star ID, and a coda. Integrated marketing can include ad sales and network insertions. For TV networks, these campaigns can be used to feature a new series or program.

A lower quality temporay version of footage to make a project easier to work with and preview.

A short, singular sound that illustrates a standout movement or event.

It involves articulated puppets or figures with movable joints. These puppets are posed and photographed for each frame.

Puzzle Matte is a type of AOV (Arbitrary Output Variable) used in Redshift that allows you to isolate specific objects, materials, or groups in your render by assigning them to the red, green, or blue channels. This makes it easy to create masks for compositing and post-processing without needing multiple render passes.This pass has an advantage over Cryptomatte because it can also look at refractions and reflections of the isolated object or material which Cryptomattes can't. This is specifically important if you need to change a color in post and said color is also seen in reflections on other objects or if the object is behind glass for example.

Creating polygons with only 4 sides

Rigid Body Dynamics. A method of simulating physics based animation. Often working with colliding objects and colliders. Bullet is a popular Rigid Body Dynamics engine.

A type of motion design project used to motivate and inspire the audience to take action. It typically features powerful and emotional messages set to music and incorporates various visual elements, such as live-action footage, animation, and text. Rallying Cry videos are often used for social campaigns, political events, or other similar purposes.

An alarming situation or activity that requires a solution or monitoring to prevent a future catastrophe.Producer, Account Manager, Project Manager, and other internal roles would flag this for a client based on activities.Example One:"The client is rushing our production but has missed payments and is hard to get in touch with. This client is a red flag."Example Two:"The client is scoped for one-off giveaway collateral for a sports car, but we've discovered the client doesn't have the sports car yet and doesn't intend to acquire one. This client is a red flag."

Redlining refers to giving visual feedback, often using a literal red-lined pencil or brush, directly on artwork or animation to suggest corrections, such as fixing poses, timing, or staying on model. While it traditionally involves artistic critique, some producers use the term more broadly to refer to any type of correction or revision, not just visual or creative notes.