We’ve recently been delving into the potential of parallax animations and cinemagraphs as a dynamic alternative to traditional stills retouching.
If you’ve got a parallax project you’d like to collaborate on, get in touch, or read on to find out how we can transform ordinary still imagery into engaging motion visuals.
How’s it done?
Parallax animations and cinemagraphs are inventive techniques that inject an element of motion into stills. With parallax editing, we separate parts of a still image and layer them to create a multi-dimensional illusion. Cinemagraphs allow us to add a looped animation over the top of a still image to create movement and interest. And by combining the two, we can create animated posters by layering retouched photography and animating a camera track through and around the space, creating an amazing level of depth and fluidity.
CREATING AN AMAZING LEVEL OF DEPTH AND FLUIDITY
What’s all the excitement about?
The magic lies in the fact that these techniques breathe new life into still images, allowing them to be repurposed. The assets created work perfectly across all digital and online channels, across social media, TV and also on physical spaces such as major billboards at stations, shopping centres and event venues.
Bringing a still to life like this creates a living image – similar to if it was shot as moving video content or created using a VFX process. However, these approaches are far more cost effective due to an efficient post-production process and more importantly, the fact that no expensive motion shoot is required. The process is subtle but effective in engaging interest.
But it’s not just the cost that could swing the balance between motion or animated posters – unlike video content, you don’t need to worry about resolution. Plus, all our animated posters go through the full retouch process first, so the quality and detail are of the highest Happy Finish standard.
Here are some of our recent favourites to give you a taste of what’s possible:
Royal Ascot 2018 | Retouch and Parallax Animation: Chris Roome
Jose Cuervo ‘Day of The Dead’ | Retouch and Cinemagraph: Nick Nedeljkovic
BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN STILLS AND MOTION
Molton Brown | Cinemagraph: Chris Roome
Channel 4 ‘Humans’ | Retouch and Parallax Animation: Vahakn Vorperian
