CDA Motion Graphics & Animation Flashcards

In motion design, what is the purpose of 'easing' a keyframe?

Answer: To gradually accelerate or decelerate motion for a more natural feel

Easing (ease-in/ease-out) adjusts the rate of change near keyframes so animations feel less mechanical and more organic.

Which file format is best suited for exporting a short looping animation with a transparent background for web use?

Answer: APNG or WebM with alpha channel

APNG and WebM with alpha channel support transparency and deliver smaller file sizes and better quality than GIF for web animations.

What is a 'motion path' in animation software?

Answer: The visible trajectory line showing how an object travels through space over time

A motion path displays the spatial trajectory of an animated object, allowing animators to edit the curve of movement directly in the composition view.

In After Effects, what does 'parenting' a layer accomplish?

Answer: Links a child layer's transformations to follow its parent layer

Parenting creates a hierarchical relationship where the child layer inherits and follows the parent's position, scale, and rotation.

What animation technique involves tracing over live-action footage frame by frame to create realistic motion?

Answer: Rotoscoping

Rotoscoping traces real footage to extract realistic movement data or create stylized animation based on actual human motion.

Which codec is most commonly recommended for delivering high-quality motion graphics for broadcast or streaming platforms in the US?

Answer: H.264 (MP4)

H.264 (MP4) offers an excellent balance of quality and compression efficiency, making it the standard delivery codec for broadcast and streaming.