How Long Do Motion Graphics Courses Take?

Anyone enrolling in a motion graphics class has to consider how long the course will go on and how much of their time they will need to invest. Training not only helps with gaining knowledge in motion graphics but can contribute to passing a certification exam. Classes in motion graphics can provide the skills needed for working in animation, visual effects, or video editing for becoming Motion Graphics Designers, Graphic Designers, Animators, and Video Editors.

A person’s time is valuable and can affect decisions with enrolling in motion graphics classes that are crucial for accomplishing long-term career goals. Students must take steps with optimizing their time by looking at training as an investment in their future when choosing the type of courses required for learning motion graphics. Different options for training involve a variety of design-related applications such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe Photoshop as well as Maxon Cinema 4D and Motion from Apple to train students who have ambitions for working as Motion Graphics Designers and Animators responsible for creating animation and visual effects.

The time required to learn motion graphics involves factors such as a person’s experience, the time needed for practice, or an individual’s career ambitions. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to learn basic functions associated with motion graphics-related software and much longer to gain expertise. For instance, a basic animation class might require only a few hours for learning fundamental concepts while an advanced course will likely require days or weeks of lessons for training.

Length of Classes

As with any technical training, the time needed for learning motion graphics will depend on the type of course and level of training a student has chosen. The time needed for training can range from a few hours with an online video tutorial to a few weeks or months enrolled in an online course, bootcamp, or certificate program. Of course, for students who plan on majoring in graphic design with an emphasis on motion graphics, their education can take anywhere from four to six years depending on whether that person continues into an MFA graduate program. Introductory classes tend to be shorter and typically cover the fundamentals of graphic design, animation, and motion. Advanced courses tend to take longer due to more detailed training that may involve techniques using a variety of design software. 

Introductory Classes

Introductory motion graphics classes tend to be the shortest and most efficient way for learning the basics of design techniques and applications. An introductory course for motion graphics can be taken in less than a day or spread out over a few days in shorter sessions. An introductory course can provide everything from a basic introduction to a subject like motion graphics to a chance to work on hands-on projects to get direct training. Introductory courses are also a good way for quickly learning the basics for applications associated with motion graphics such as Premiere Pro for students to get comfortable enough with the interface to experiment on their own. However, the drawback with an introductory course may be with being an introductory course. If students decide that they want to learn more than the basics, they will need to spend more time learning procedures and operating applications either on their own or by enrolling in advanced classes.

Advanced Courses

An advanced motion graphics-related course may generally take longer to complete due to training involving more complicated procedures and techniques for using various design applications such as Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Apple Motion. Advanced training in motion graphics involves a detailed exploration into animation, motion, and video tailored to teaching Designers the technical skills they will need balanced with creative and workflow related topics.

Advanced courses provide expert-level training in motion graphics needed for working with a variety of software, including, for example, Photoshop and Illustrator for integrating with animation created using After Effects. 

Motion Graphics Bootcamps

A motion graphics bootcamp can provide immersive training in a compact timeframe that can take a few weeks or months for teaching new learners procedures, techniques, and tools associated with that area of graphic design. At Noble Desktop, for example, a motion graphics-related bootcamp can be taken over several weeks in a full-time format or in a few months with the part-time option. Students will want to enroll in a bootcamp for learning skills with motion graphics to work in careers that include animation, visual effects, and editing videos that can lead to becoming Animators, Motion Graphic Designers, 3D Designers, or Video Editors. Bootcamp can provide industry-standard training in motion graphics for creating stand-alone videos, animation, visual effects, and animated titles through lessons from hands-on projects, which provides a compact method for training to become a design professional. 

Adobe After Effects Courses

Adobe After Effects is a visual effects application used in post-production with films, compositing, visual effects, and animation by Visual Designers, Video Editors, and Motion Graphics Designers for creating animation and graphics in film and television, websites, YouTube videos, and social media. Training in After Effects can typically take about 150 hours independently for getting used to working with the visual effects application to create and control animation, apply special effects, and produce content for engaging audiences and potential customers. As an application included with the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite, After Effects integrates with other Adobe software like Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Training in After Effects can help with optimizing motion graphics for working as Video Editors and Motion Graphics Designers. 

Premiere Pro Courses

Adobe Premiere Pro is the leading video editing application used in television, film, and digital media for integrating video, graphics, motion graphics, and audio for producing professional-level visual presentations. Learning Premiere Pro typically requires 150 hours of instruction and practice for being able to work with the non-linear video editing application. Getting familiar with software like Premiere Pro can help with finding employment by possessing skills that combine knowledge in video editing with storytelling principles for developing a coherent and compelling narrative flow. Premiere Pro integrates seamlessly with Photoshop and After Effects for creating professional-looking motion graphics. Training in Premiere Pro can lead to work in animation with skills in video editing and motion graphics.

Motion Graphics College Degrees

People who are considering going to college for training in motion graphics can major in graphic design with an emphasis in that area. A college degree in graphic design can take about four years or as long as six years if a student decides to move on to graduate school for an MFA. A graphic design major focused on motion graphics will likely include general courses in history and theory related to visual arts along with general courses required for a university education.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand motion graphics courses provide a convenient option for people who have complicated schedules for being able to access training at their own pace and on their own time. Self-paced classes typically offer training through learning modules that enrollees have the freedom of accessing at their choosing within the timeframe of the program. The length of an on-demand course can vary depending on the complexity of the subject, with courses lasting anywhere from an hour to 60 total hours or longer.

While on-demand courses do provide students with scheduling flexibility, the format also requires discipline from participants by demanding that they get work done at an appropriate time by avoiding procrastination. Because it is always tempting to keep putting an assignment off with any type of course, students will have to develop their own rigid schedule to follow in order to avoid falling behind in an on-demand course. And because on-demand classes do not provide live instructors, students may also need to take more time to research any difficulties or issues that they encounter.

Deciding Between Part-Time or Full-Time Classes

When deciding between whether to enroll in full-time or part-time training with motion graphics, much depends on an individual’s circumstances. For people who have jobs or family obligations, enrolling in a full-time course is virtually impossible. For them, part-time courses may provide a convenient option that offers the same level of training available with full-time classes but stretched over a lengthier time period. However, some do prefer the full-time format if only to “get it over with” in the shorter timeframe instead of stretching training over a longer period. Decisions may hinge on how students approach their training through managing their time for balancing course work with other responsibilities. Getting comfortable with learning any new software or technique related to motion graphics will also play a role in whether someone chooses the part-time or full-time format. 

Learn Video Editing Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers training in various areas of motion graphics, including enrolling in the Motion Graphics Certificate program. This course offers training in motion graphics, animation, and video editing that includes training in visual effects with lessons in Adobe After Effects, Maxon Cinema 4D Lite, and Adobe Premiere Pro. This course lasts two months with weekday sessions if taken as a full-time class or four months in the part-time format that meets evenings.

Training in motion graphics at Noble Desktop can include enrolling in the Premiere Pro Bootcamp for learning motion graphics techniques along with video and film editing used by studios and professional designers. Training includes lessons on how to import and organize footage, apply visual elements to a sequence, clean up audio, and correct color. This 18-hour workshop provides options for meeting weekdays or evenings.

Students can also enroll in Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp for training in this industry-standard motion graphics application for learning to create animation, visual effects, and animated titles through hands-on projects. Students have the option of enrolling in this 18-hour bootcamp for evening or weekday classes. 

Noble Desktop also offers the Video Editing Certificate program. This course provides lessons on video editing, motion graphics, and audio editing through training in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. Enrollees have the option of taking this course as a one-month full-time program taught on weekdays or a four-month part-time program taught during evenings.