If you are paying attention to the industry at all, you know that Unreal Engine has become a dominant force in real time virtual production for film and television. But did you know that it’s also a powerful tool for motion graphics?
In this video, Motion Designers Dan Maurer & Kris Bargen of Cart and Horse show you why Unreal is the next generation mograph tool you’ve been waiting for. They’ll look at rendering speeds, the real-time viewport, inputs, blueprints and Project Avalanche - Epic’s new Unreal Engine-based motion graphics software package, currently in beta.
Enter the world of real-time with Unreal Engine! Get comfortable working with Unreal Engine 5 in this self-paced beginner's course for motion designers and 3D artists.
1. Lightning-Fast Rendering in Unreal Engine
Render pain is real, folks. Hours upon hours waiting for a single sequence to pop out. But here’s the kicker: Unreal Engine changes the game with its offline renderer. Imagine rendering high-quality images ludicrously faster without a render farm in sight. We’re talking 100 times quicker than Redshift, and as Unreal’s pathtracer gets beefier, we’re edging into territory where quality meets Octane-like swiftness. It’s not just fast; it’s unreal fast.
2. Real-Time Viewport Magic
To all the C4D peeps out there, remember the times you wished your viewport could just show you the final render? Unreal heard you. The real-time viewport in Unreal is so spot-on that your render preview is practically what you get – except the actual render is even more stunning. Adjust lighting, animation, and materials on the fly, play with post FX, motion blur, depth of field, and more.
3. Blueprint Your Imagination
Now, Unreal might be a game engine at heart, but it's got some serious chops for motion design. With the ability to integrate live data inputs and programming behavior, it's like opening a portal to a world of creative possibilities. If the thought of coding gives you the heebie-jeebies – blueprints let you weave magic without writing a single line of code. And for the node-lovers, Unreal is your playground.
4. Unreal Engine is an Avalanche of Tools
If you've felt Unreal had a bit of catching up to do in the content creation arena, say hello to Project Avalanche. This is Unreal rolling out the red carpet for motion designers, offering a toolkit that fuses 2D and 3D elements in real-time, and yes, a layer system that’ll make After Effects users feel right at home. Avalanche is still in beta, but it’s already shaping up to be a game-changer.
5. Outputs & Industry Expansion
The future of motion design isn't just about what you create; it's also about where it goes. Unreal Engine doesn't just stop at rendered frames; it opens doors to virtual production, extended reality, and more. The possibilities are expanding fast, with new industries and big names jumping on the Unreal bandwagon for digital product work.
Wrapping It Up
If all this Unreal talk has you on the edge of your seat, check out Jonathan Winbush's School of Motion (SoM) course, "Unreal Engine for 3D Artists". And for those craving even more Unreal skills, hop over to the Cart and Horse YouTube channel.
Cart and Horse Links:
- Website: https://cartandhorse.studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cartandhorse.studio/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cartandhorse
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cart-and-horse
- Kris Bargen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kris_bargen/
- Dan Maurer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maurerdan5/
Dive into real-time 3D with our Unreal Engine beginner's course by Jonathan Winbush. Master importing assets, world-building, animation, and cinematic sequences to create stunning 3D renders in no time! Perfect for motion designers ready to level up.
Explore this Course ➔Unlock the secrets of character design in this dynamic course! Explore shape language, anatomy rules, and motifs to craft animation-ready characters. Gain drawing tips, hacks, and Procreate mastery (or any drawing app). Ideal for artists seeking to elevate their craft.
Explore this Course ➔Elevate your freelance motion design career with our guide to client success. Master a repeatable method for finding, contacting, and landing clients. Learn to identify prospects, nurture leads, and develop a thriving freelance philosophy amidst chaos.
Explore this Course ➔Rev up your editing skills with After Effects! Learn to use it for everyday needs and craft dynamic templates (Mogrts) for smarter teamwork. You'll master creating animated graphics, removing unwanted elements, tracking graphics, and making customizable templates.
Explore this Course ➔Stand out with Demo Reel Dash! Learn to spotlight your best work and market your unique brand of magic. By the end, you'll have a brand new demo reel and a custom campaign to showcase yourself to an audience aligned with your career goals.
Explore this Course ➔Illuminate your 3D skills with Lights, Camera, Render! Dive deep into advanced Cinema 4D techniques with David Ariew. Master core cinematography skills, gain valuable assets, and learn tools and best practices to create stunning work that wows clients.
Explore this Course ➔Master After Effects at your own pace with Jake Bartlett's beginner course. Perfect for video editors, you'll learn to create stylish animated graphics, remove unwanted elements, and track graphics into shots. By the end, you'll be equipped for everyday AE needs and more.
Explore this Course ➔Revolutionize your Premiere workflow with customizable AE templates! Master creating dynamic Motion Graphics Templates (Mogrts) in After Effects to speed up your team's work. By the end, you'll craft easily-customizable templates for seamless use in Premiere Pro.
Explore this Course ➔
Not sure where to start?
If you’re a beginner, here are some great courses to help you get started:
After Effects Kickstart
Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course.
Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed
Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course.
Design Kickstart
An introduction to the design principles behind all great work.
More Advanced?
If you’re a more advanced student looking to up your game, here are some great options:
Animation Bootcamp
Learn the art and principles of creating beautiful movements in Adobe After Effects.
Design Bootcamp
Learn to design for motion in this intermediate-level, project-based course.
Cinema 4D Basecamp
Learn Cinema 4D from the ground up in this exciting introductory C4D course.
Now is the time to learn the skills you need to advance in your motion design career: