Can I Learn Motion Graphics On My Own?

Some who are interested in learning motion graphics may hesitate under the belief that training may be too expensive. However, people can teach themselves motion graphics by becoming familiar with a variety of graphic design tools and software as well as learning different types of animation. Some people have a knack for learning things by tinkering around and often teach themselves how to play a musical instrument or how to repair a car by picking up on techniques here and there for adding new skills like adding patches to a quilt. Learning motion graphics involves developing animated content for web platforms, digital media, film, television, and online marketing through learning applications like Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Advantages to Self-Teaching Motion Graphics

Many technology professionals and successful Graphic Designers are self-taught, honing their skills through observation, imitation, and practice. For instance, many Web Designers have learned their skills by breaking down websites and mimicking how those sites have been built as models for developing their own web pages. The advantage of people teaching themselves motion graphic and other design and animation-related skills is that they can focus strictly on exploring the areas of graphics and animation that interest them. Self-training allows individuals to decide on when and how to train, and, best of all, they won’t have to pay for a class until they’re ready.

Many successful Graphic Designers and Animators started as people playing around with design tools to see how something worked before deciding to create anything on their own once they had gotten the hang of creating graphic designs, animation, or visual effects to add to videos or web designs. Of course, teaching themselves motion graphics did not mean ignoring free training resources like online videos and free online tutorials. Among the advantages of self-teaching is for people being able to develop their own flexible schedule for learning the appropriate skills while maintaining a full-time job. Self-training is also cost-efficient with being able to find free online videos and tutorials. There are plenty of online resources from education providers available to use as learning tools for working with motion graphics at no cost.

Motion Graphics Self-Teaching Tools

People who take the route of teaching themselves motion graphics have a variety of tools that can help them with training, including free on-demand courses, video tutorials, and other online resources. Several education providers offer free on-demand classes that provide a self-paced tool for learning about animation, visual effects design, and video editing. While teaching themselves areas of motion graphics offer several advantages, there are also plenty of disadvantages. This might include out-of-date online websites or video presenters whose skills may not be as advanced as they believe. However, among the advantages are free video platforms like YouTube. Several education providers and professional Graphic Designers upload video tutorials or advice onto YouTube, providing information about using different software, techniques, or approaches relevant for learning motion graphics, including troubleshooting.

Motion graphics involves working with a variety of design tools for help with attracting online users and potential customers to websites, products, or services through designing attractive presentations. For those who don’t feel quite ready to take on or pay for a formal introductory course to learn motion graphics, there are several free learning options available from a variety of online education providers like Coursesity, which offers the free Get Started with Motion Graphics tutorial on its platforms. These free on-demand courses provide students with self-paced training that can lead to working in several areas related to visual design, including animation, visual effects, 3D modeling, and video editing. Anyone interested in learning motion graphics and related skills can also take advantage of Udemy’s free Animation in After Effects course or its free Learn Adobe Premiere Pro tutorial. Additionally, Alison’s Free Online Motion Graphics Course can help with getting the ball rolling for training in motion graphics as well.

Noble Desktop also offers free video tutorials like the Get Started in Motion Graphics seminar, which provides practical knowledge for creating animated graphics as well as getting familiar with related software for working in web design, film and television, or digital media. This free webinar introduces new learners to motion graphics along with related video tutorials from Noble Desktop, including the Intro to Adobe After Effects seminar for working with visual effects in motion graphics, the Intro to Adobe Premiere Pro seminar to gain skills in video editing, the Intro to Cinema 4D Lite seminar for learning about 3D modeling, the Intro to Adobe Illustrator seminar, and the Get Started in Video Editing seminar.

Another logical option for self-teaching would be through gaining access to various design applications and software. Among the biggest difficulties with learning motion graphics is being able to access the required software and tools for gaining familiarity with various areas of design. While it’s possible to gain access to Adobe Creative Cloud graphic design applications through a free trial subscription in order to get comfortable with the basic functions of tools like Premiere Pro or After Effects, prospective design professionals will need to have their own subscription if they plan to move on to formal training for employment involving motion graphics for access to graphic design software that they will need for classes as well as eventual employment. While many classes may provide limited licensing for students training in motion graphics for lessons involving hands-on training projects, some education providers may require that students purchase their own Adobe Creative Cloud subscription or software.

Drawbacks to Learning Motion Graphics on Your Own

As with nearly every part of life, there are drawbacks for people teaching themselves skills related to motion graphics. Of course, people teaching themselves about graphics, animation, visual effects, or video editing techniques for working in motion graphics will usually go into their training filled with vigor and enthusiasm. However, the main problem with self-training may be with remaining enthusiastic. Other drawbacks for people teaching themselves motion graphics would be with maintaining focus on what they want out of their training as well as not spreading themselves too thin. There may also be uncertainty about where to begin as well as which area to focus on. Another problem with self-teaching is not being able to get feedback due to there being no instructor to learn from or consult. While a person may teach themselves graphic design, animation, and other design skills related to motion graphics, that individual may not have any idea about whether their skills actually show any promise. A solution to that issue could be finding an online forum or establishing a correspondence with experienced Animators, Graphic Designers, or Visual Effects Artists to get constructive advice. A final drawback might also be with sticking to a training schedule to avoid procrastination. 

For Graphic Designers new to motion graphics, getting comfortable with the software involved for applying the techniques could represent the biggest hurdle. However, teaching themselves user-friendly applications like Adobe After Effects for learning motion graphics can help with easing newcomers along on their way to mastering skills for making static images and text come to life. Learning motion graphics offers various methods for developing simple animated graphics such as moving titles, spinning shapes, and animated logos along with designing complex digital animations for television shows, movies, commercials, and YouTube videos used by professional organizations and amateurs for developing professional looking visual content. Learning anything new may not be easy, but individuals should be able to teach themselves techniques associated with motion graphics for using tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator that provides a smooth transition for picking up a new set of graphic design skills.

Alternatives to Learning Motion Graphics on Your Own

While people teaching themselves motion graphics gain familiarity with a variety of applications, their next step after establishing a foundation should be with enrolling in formal training to hone those new skills. Among the advantages with taking motion graphics-related courses would be for improving on the skill that you have taught yourself, getting feedback from expert instructors, and gaining expertise through advanced courses and certificate programs. Formal training in motion graphics can lead to working in web design, digital media, television, film, or digital marketing as Motion Graphics Designers, 3D Animators, Visual Designers, or Video Editors.

Another logical option for taking training in motion graphics to the next level would be with enrolling in advanced courses and certificate programs that can help with passing certification exams that authenticate technical expertise. You can enroll with Noble Desktop for certificate training in motion graphics for learning a variety of design applications like Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. For instance, Noble Desktop offers the Motion Graphics Certificate program for teaching you about motion graphics, animation, and video editing, including creating visual effects with Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D Lite, and Premiere Pro. This certificate program provides hands-on training for working with motion graphics-related applications for handling tasks, including animated projects. While certificate programs can lead to acquiring certification, they are not the same as gaining certification, but certificate training may help with passing a certification exam. The Noble Desktop After Effects Bootcamp can teach you how to use this industry-standard motion graphics application for creating animated graphics, animation, and visual effects through lessons from hands-on projects. Additionally, enrolling in the Premiere Pro Bootcamp at Noble Desktop can provide you with lessons on how to import and organize footage, apply visual elements to a sequence, clean up audio, and correct color.