vector graphics and animation
This page is mainly about 3.10_vector_graphics_and_animation
Module introduction
Have you ever wondered how the slick, smooth animations in your favourite apps, games, and movies are made? It’s not magic, but a powerful combination of art and logic. In this module, you will unlock the secrets behind digital animation, discovering how to bring static images to life. This journey will take you from the basics of vector graphics—creating crisp, scalable characters and objects—to being able to confidently control their movement over time. By the end of this module, you will have the power to design and build your own short, animated scene, turning your creative ideas into moving stories.
Why does this module matter?
Animation and motion graphics are everywhere in the digital world. They make apps more engaging, explain complex ideas in videos, and create the immersive worlds we love in games. Understanding how to create them is not just a fun, creative skill; it's a foundational skill for many modern digital careers. This module will help you become a creator, not just a consumer, of the dynamic digital content you see every day.
1
For you
This module will help you develop several key computing personas:
The Creative Technologist: This is the heart of the module. You'll be using technology as your paintbrush and canvas, focusing on artistic expression, storytelling, and creating a visually compelling and memorable animation.
The Implementer: A great idea is only the start. This module is about the 'doing'. You will take your creative vision and use specific software tools and techniques to implement it, turning a design plan into a finished, working animation.
The Modeller: Animation requires planning. You will act as a Modeller when you create storyboards to plan your narrative and design simplified vector characters (abstractions) that can be easily manipulated and animated.
2
For your future
The skills you learn in this module are the starting point for many exciting and in-demand careers. One of the most direct pathways is to become a Motion Graphics Designer.
Career focus: Motion Graphics Designers create animated graphics and visual effects for websites, apps, television, and film. They bring static designs to life by animating logos, text, and illustrations to tell a story or explain an idea in a visually engaging way.
Key Skills: This role requires a strong blend of creativity and technical ability. Key skills you will start developing in this module include creating scalable assets using vector graphics software and using animation software to control an object's position, rotation, and scale over time.
Interesting facts: Motion graphics are everywhere, from the title sequences of your favourite movies and TV shows to the animated icons and explainer videos you see on websites and social media. It is a rapidly growing field as video content becomes more and more important for businesses and entertainment.
Our Learning Journey
Our adventure into animation begins by exploring the fundamental difference between vector and bitmap graphics, understanding why vectors are the perfect tool for creating scalable characters. From there, you will learn to master the timeline, using keyframes and 'tweening' to make your creations move, scale, and rotate. We will then explore how to create more natural-looking motion using curved paths and easing. Finally, you will bring all these skills together to design, build, and export your own short, animated scene, telling a simple story from start to finish.
Last modified: July 21st, 2025
