The Beautiful Utility: How to Use and Make Abstract Motion Backgrounds
Note: I would love for you to read my post, but if you are just here for the freebie, hey that's cool too! Just scroll down to the end of the post for the link. Thanks much! - Craig
Last week I wrote about the power of using stock video of Real People in your productions. This week, I am going to talk about an equally potent, yet completely different media genre. I am referring to Abstract Video Backgrounds.
Abstract Motion Backgrounds MediaBox (View All Files in Video Above)
What Does Abstract Really Mean?
I don't mean to be obtuse, as I would like to put it to you straight, but before I end up going around in circles, without appearing to square, I am going to try to explain what abstract motion backgrounds really are.
See what I did there?
Indeed, when the word abstract is used in relation to video, it generally means some mixture of shapes, objects, circles, lines, squares, rectangles and on and on, melding together to create a beautiful piece of art.
Speaking of art, you probably have heard of Abstract Art. Google defines Abstract Art as:
Abstract video is, in most ways, Abstract Art of its own. It is an amalgam of shapes, forms, colors and textures mixed and melted together to create a beautiful kinetic work of art.
While we are talking definitions, I might as well clarify what a motion background is. On RevoStock, we consider a motion background to be:
A video that, in most cases, is meant to be used as background art in a video or media production.
Some uses for motion backgrounds include menus (i.e. DVD), announcements, film trailers, show intros and lower thirds.
Used correctly, abstract motion backgrounds will give your production a unique sense of beauty and artistic value. Used incorrectly, abstract motion backgrounds can make your production look cheesy and out of date.
How are Abstract Motion Backgrounds Made?
There are many different ways to create abstract video backgrounds. Most of them are software based, but not all of them are.
Software Based
There are several software packages you can use to create stunning abstract motion backgrounds. The two primary software types are Motion Graphics software and 3D Rendering Software.
Motion Graphics Software
In the Motion Graphics realm, most would say that there are only two contenders. The first is Adobe's After Effects. After Effects is considered by most to be the leading motion graphics software package. It is hard to imagine a production studio of any type not using After Effects in some way or fashion.
I often have to explain to people I meet what I do. Explaining the stock video and music part is relatively easy, but when I start to talk about our templates for After Effects it gets a bit tricky.
I generally say, "You know when you are watching ESPN and before the show a title appears and the text is flying around and shapes and objects are moving everywhere.... Well, that was most likely made with After Effects."
Here's the rub though. It's more likely that those title graphics were made with some version of 3D rendering software, but since it isn't unlikely that it could have been created or at least finished in After Effects, it's an easy example to use. I also mention film trailers because many, if not most are created using After Effects. After Effects is software that manipulates text, objects, shapes, colors and textures in order to create graphics that move, hence, motion graphics. This makes it a stellar piece of software to use for creating abstract motion backs.
The other popular motion graphics software is Apple's Motion. Motion is not as widely used as After Effects, but still a very powerful motion graphics package.
Both of these software packages allow you to create beautiful motion from nothing. However, you don't have to start with nothing. You can start with photos or videos of your own, and then use effects like blur, shine, flow, particular, form, glow, and warp to bend them to your will.
3D Rendering Software
There are loads of 3D modelers/renderers out there. Some popular software packages include 3ds Max, Cinema 4D and the open source and free option called Blender.
3D software allows you to create complex 3D objects from a simple box to a fully detailed human being by starting with a wireframe model and eventually adding textures, lighting, shading ,and other effects to make it look three-dimensional and therefore realistic.
While people mostly think of 3D software being used for animation, i.e. Toy Story, or video games like Halo, it can also be used to beautiful effect to create abstract motion backgrounds.
Creating, blending, overlaying, coloring, animating and 'effecting' 3D shapes and objects can produce stunning abstract results.
Footage Based
You don't have to use Motion Graphics or 3D software to create an abstract motion background. There are plenty of creative ways to create them by simply using your video camera.
Blur Based Footage Backgrounds
By pointing your camera at a point of interest and putting your lens out of focus, you can create some very interesting motion backgrounds. A popular version of this type of background would be the light bokeh technique. When pointing your camera at lights, generally at night, and blurring the image, the lights will turn into little "bokehs." Wikipedia defines bokehs as:
The way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.
A lot of people don't realize that "Bokeh" is Comanche for "Blurry light shapes." Ok, not really, but it would be cool if it was.
You can use the "Bokeh" technique to create as many variations as you want, based on the lighting and color combinations available to you.
Zoom Based Footage Backgrounds
This is similar to blur based because your subject matter will still likely be blurred. However, the blur in this case, comes from zooming in very closely on a moving item rather than simply defocusing. Zooming in so close that the lens goes out of focus can produce some interesting results. The "Bokeh" technique mentioned above can be done by zooming as well, but it isn't necessary.
Motion Based Footage Backgrounds
By panning or tilting your camera quickly, you can create a streak effect that can be used as an abstract background. These quick pans are often used blurred even further and used as transitions from shot to shot. Because the motion is very fast in these types of backgrounds they are more often used as quick transitions between takes/shots unlike other more slow moving backrounds.
Subject Based Footage Backgrounds
Life is full of abstract things. Smoke, water, fire, jello, and jello...
There are many elements and items that are naturally or unnaturally abstract in nature. Obtaining an interesting abstract background in these cases, might be as easy as pointing and shooting. However, shooting and then importing your footage into After Effects and further modifying it using filters and effects can produce lovely results.
Ways to Utilize Abstract Motion Backgrounds in Your Own Productions
How to use Abstract media in your productions... let me count the ways....
I have already covered this to some degree above, but here are a few ways you can utilize abstract motion backgrounds in your own productions.
Lower Thirds
Most editing software allows you to "mask" certain parts of a video layer, only revealing the part you want to show through. By masking a section of an abstract motion background, i.e. a rectangle and placing the rectangle in a bottom corner of your frame, you effectively create what is called a "Lower Third." Simply place your text over your newer lower third to introduce one of your talking heads (the people who are speaking in your production or interview that you wish to identify.)
Film Trailers/Intros
Immediately as I write this I think of Breaking Bad... Oh, how I love you and miss you Breaking Bad... What an incredible show you were. Sniff Sniff....
And, oh Breaking Bad... what a compelling intro you had. Ok, maybe not compelling, but definitely clever. If you don't know the show, it's about a High School chemistry teacher who gets cancer and decides to take care of his family in light of this tragedy by cooking and selling meth. The intro to Breaking Bad includes the cast and crew's names appearing with certain letters highlighted as if they were elements from the Periodic Table. In the background, however, is a green smoky abstract motion background. The green smoky look creates visions of Heisenberg in an RV meth lab dancing in one's head.
Menus/Text-Based Information
Whether it's a DVD menu or rolling credits, abstract motion backgrounds are simple ways to spice up the look of your text or menu in a complimentary way without distracting from the focus of the information.
Abstract motion backs are good for this purpose, because, well, they are abstract. If you put, something more concrete behind your text, it is likely to be more difficult to read or interpret because your eyes will be focusing on the information behind your information.
Footage/Color Effects
Another great way to use abstract motion backgrounds is to apply them to photos or footage to create a color or abstract effect.
One of my favorite ways to do this using After Effects is to place an abstract background over some footage and experiment with After Effect's layer styles feature. Layer styles determine how one layer interacts with the layer below it. I personally prefer the "Overlay" layer style, but other styles available include Multiply, Dodge, Burn, and Invert. Using abstract backgrounds in this manner can produce some very unique results.
Conclusion
Personally, I love both making and using abstract motion backgrounds. With the right tools, one can create amazing works of art with just a few clicks of the mouse! I hope this article has helped you understand the various ways to create Abstract Motions as well as inspired you to create your own!
RevoStock has an enormous collection of Abstract Motion Backgrounds in every style, color and theme imaginable and at truly inspiring price points. If you would like to check some out, we have them organized for you by our Newest Abstract Backgrounds, our Editor's Choice Backgrounds and our Most Popular Abstract Motions.
If you are right now thinking of other ways to create or use Abstract backgrounds that I missed, please comment below, and if you know someone this article might help, please share away!
Thanks for reading!!!
- Craig
Please Log-In or Create a Free Account to post a comment or question. We really would love to hear from you!