How to build a Local Website

Go Local is the name of the game in 2011/12 and the success of bringing the global web developments back home is a trend of the time. First it was about tagging people, now we tag locations, be it on social networks such as Facebook or on Photo sites, such as Picasa or Flickr.

Based on the fact that surfers search for and prefer local business to cross border transactions, social networks namely have built in the local tags and stimulate users to hook media and events to geographically tagged locations.

In order to dominate the local market, you need to assess the use of the internet your neighbors make; chances are that they mostly hang out on social media, search Google and use email. This is of course an extremely simplified view but it gives an indication about where we need to build high visibility.

You also want to have an idea about how people access the net and websites; you will notice an increased use of mobile deices, which means that your content needs to be formatted and optimized  for desktops as well as for tablets and mobile phones.

Finally you may notice that surfers prefer visual content to text, which impacts on editing and publishing for multiple platforms.

In order to build high visibility on search returns, you need

• a local website.
• make use of all possible Google Listings pertaining to the geographic location.
• great content and consistent publishing to provide useful information and trigger conversation.

To dominate social networks (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn) we need

• optimized profiles.
• Facebook Pages.
• a consistent flow of information to trigger attention and conversation.
• an optimized set-up to assure traffic back to our websites (let the social networks work for us instead of the opposite).

To dominate the mobile web we need

• mobile versions of our websites (tablets and smartphones).
• mobile search optimization.
• ideally an App.
• easy to use interactive functions.

The answer is similar to managing a business online. There are three main elements I like to focus on:

• an optimized workflow to assure maximum productivity.
• high quality content and content providers.
• an integrated publishing network to hit all the important targets with per platform optimized content.

• Ads from Local Business.
• Ads from external Business wanting to do business locally.
• Eventually by integrating a local directory.
• Eventually by integrating a real estate classifieds feature.
• Eventually by integrating a service and products exchange.
•  … and more.

Just a few ideas:

• Talk about people.
• Talk about events.
• Talk about stories concerning the community.
• Talk about Local Sports, Clubs, Associations.
• Publish Pictures (people like to see their face and place).
• Talk about local business.
• Integrate a news wire from the major’s office.
• Have a local Gossip column.
• Let visitors contribute and discuss content.
• Don’t forget rating.
• Create competitions, contests, top 3 lists.
• Exchange advertising space with local media to promote your site quickly an consistently.
• Bring the conversation from social networks back to your site.
• … and so much more!

I hope this post helps your brainstorming when creating your local project. I will publish shortly a detailed project for my demo community, Vouliagmeni.

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Mobile WordPress and Social Media

The fast evolution of the mobile web has created new needs for publishers, whereas the objective remains to integrate mobile web targets into an existing workflow and to optimize productivity with the help of automated conversion scripts and tools.

At Semiomantics the starting point for our development is the most comprehensive conversion plugin, called WPTouch Pro. WPTouch has released its latest version end of March 2012 with some adjustments for iOS 5.1 and many other fixes and developments:

• * Added: Custom advertising options for iPad

• * Added: Simple caching of desktop functions.php

• * Added: Russian language file

• * Added: Automatic archiving of previous settings in wptouch-data directory

• * Added: Compatibility setting for BuddyPress Mobile AJAX support

• * Fixed: Changing user-agent matching that may have interfered with advertising in certain scenarios

• * Changed: Replaced include with locate_template in theme files, should allow child overrides of custom WPtouch Pro template files

• * Changed: Algorithm to reload settings; may have caused settings to be lost in a certain scenario

• * Updated: All translations based on 2.6 strings

• * Fixed: An issue with Register and Lost password links in Classic

• * Fixed: Video issues with jwPlayer and other video sources and plugins

• * Fixed: An issue which could cause the Share button not to show in Classic mobile theme

• * Fixed: Improved appearance for Embedded Google maps

• * Fixed: Issues with Tweet text encoding in sharing options for Classic

• * Fixed: Search form issues with Skeleton theme

• * Fixed: Admin issues for non-English languages

• * Fixed: Issue where style.min.css was never loaded in child themes of Classic

• * Fixed: Broken admin icons when SSL was enabled in the admin

• * Added: Hungarian language

• * Changed: Adjustments for memory management in Classic iPad theme

• * Fixed: An issue with MapPress embeds

• * Fixed: An issue with JetPack videos

• * Fixed: An issue with Smart Youtube plugin videos

• * Fixed: Issue with blank spaces in custom user agent string

The above recent change-logs indicate the extent of considerations necessary for a serious development of an integrated mobile WP based solution. The reason for such complexity lies amongst others in the following:

1. Increasing WordPress complexity and advanced plugin developments.
2. The multitude of mobile operating systems, browsers and devices of different sizes, display resolutions and aspect ratios.
3. The improved algorithms of Mobile Search.
4. The complexity of Semiomantics’ unbeaten optimization for conventional and mobile search.
5. The popularity of mobile and smart devices and the automated Mobile Search privileging mobile site versions.
6. The popularity of Social Networks and their ever changing integration parameters.

At Semiomantics we aim to make complex matters simple for day to day use. As an author or business, you don’t want to spend your time with technical issues or sitting logged into social networks to keep up with the continuous stream of information and exchanges. You want to do your business and be assured that your message gets spread broadly and that visitors requests are piped to proper destination without your intervention.

Semiomantics Developers are trained to build high end customer specific solutions assuring optimized productivity and workflow.

Based on the above, the Seminar will provide all necessary updates and upgrades for existing and new installations of high end websites, namely those built on Semiomantics XO and EVO frameworks.

During numerous Workshops we will knock participants personal sites into shape to comply with the highest standards.

We will go step by step through the set-up and development of the customized version of each participants author site. This includes the following workshops:

1. Build a Mobile Child Theme for your Website.

2. Build OS specific Icons.

3. Build a Start up screen (image).

4. Build Mobile specific WP 3.0 menus.

5. Custom Links and Icons.

6. Integrate Advertizing: Adsense, Admob, Custom Ads.

7. Custom Post formats for the Mobile theme.

8. Test Plugin compatibility and create your mobile plugin menu.

9. Embed media for Mobile content, YouTube, Vimeo or self-hosted standard h.264 encoded media.

10. Specifics for tablet computing, namely for the iPad and other touch tablets.

We will focus on Facebook in particular. Mobile Facebook is quite restrictive; it is therefore important to learn about what is visible on mobile FB and what cannot be accessed, respectively, how we may work around some of these restrictions.

In fact: Mobile Facebook is quite disappointing, be it whether you access it via the App or the browser. Custom content on app driven canvas pages and page favorites don’t display! Even promoting their link on the wall will not trigger any display. There are some workarounds by using different browsers where you can modify browser settings and simulate a desktop browser, but that’s not a solution for the masses.

Facebook is not here to promote YOUR site but just to grab your content for it’s own purpose.

• We will show you how to work around the problem and take advantage of the FB App and Mobile Site to get most out of it. The goal is to achieve that Facebook works for you and not you for Facebook.

• We will also come back to the desktop version of Facebook, showing how to build the most neutral and minimalist Facebook page for full and perfect control of all your content.

The Ycademy Online Seminar will take place on April 28/29, 2012 starting daily as usual at 1 p.m. London Time and closing at 9 p.m. London time.

All materials and scripts are provided and included.

The cost for this seminar is $85; discounts as usual for Ycademy Pros (please mail Bianca at bianca(at)ycademy.com for the coupon code.

Click on the below image to get your ticket.

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Photoshop CS6

Today let’s have a look at Photoshop CS6 Beta which is available for free download from Adobe. The version is called ‘Superstition’ and it is the first significant update to Photoshop since CS5 ( in the Suite CS5.5 Adobe delivered the same Photoshop as in CS5).

Having thoroughly tested the new Photoshop CS6 Beta, it seems to me that this version is addressing namely people who are working with digital photos and videos; also the 3D features have been significantly improved.

In other words, if you are not using Photoshop to edit your images, needing content aware patching and selective blurring, there is no real need to upgrade your CS5.

If however you are a photo freak and if you are shooting short videos, then Photoshop CS6 is a smashing program, allowing you to go beyond what photography can do (such as multiple shallow depth of field areas on a single image).

Click to view

This is what’s new on Photoshop CS6:

•     UI redesign (all new icons and optional dark UI) OK, they copied (sorry, got inspired by (big companies don’t copy, huh)) Apple’s Aperture; you can switch back to the old colors in the Beta version.

•     Auto and background saves. (… no comment).

•     Content-aware Patch and Move tools  (Smashing stuff for Photo freaks!).

•     Blur Gallery (smashing as well as you go beyond photography!).

•     Color Range: skin tone and face detection (OK but not smashing).

•     Adobe Camera RAW 7 (this really brings out the detail of RAW formats).

•     Enhanced crop tool (at last they understood what we want)!

•     New properties panel (so what?).

•     Enhanced video support (good stuff, namely if you don’t have a real video editor).

•     Oil Paint filter (I don’t like this McDonald’s stuff).

•     Adaptive Wide Angle filter (Brilliant stuff)!

•     Paragraph and Character Styles (Great stuff — but only if you need to edit text with Photoshop).

•     Updated Printing UI (no substantial change — just for the look …).

There are two videos I recommend to get an impression of the good stuff contained in Photoshop CS6:

Russel Brown’s 6 favorites

Julieanne Kost’s Favorites

I have installed Photoshop CS6 on my Windows 8 installation and it works great! I am just still frustrated by the 64 bit version which is still slower than the 32 bit edition. Also my OnOne tools don’t fit into and work on the 64bit version.

Having said that, the new CS6 Photoshop (32 bit) is much faster than the previous version.

Click to view

Here above an exaggerated tilt-shift blur on a picture taken this week at a basketball game (Panathinaikos vs Macabi which we won :-)); the feature helps to blur faces from excited fans allowing the publication of the image.

Click to view

Click to view

Yes, I like Photoshop CS6 simply because I love photography. Any tool helping to make the best use of a RAW or a JPEG file is welcome for as long as it helps to improve my photographic shortcomings. But CS6 goes further: it allows to apply filters to create effects which cannot be achieved just with photography without destroying pure photography. I am namely thinking of the blur filters.

Photoshop CS6 is better than most cameras out there and that’s another big advantage namely for people who don’t invest in high quality cams or who use just mobile phones to shoot pics and videos. The big question remains: is it worth while to invest into the upgrade? Put it that way: if you go for quality photo editing, Photoshop is THE tool and CS6 is a great step ahead of CS5. Together with Lightroom 4 and the latest OnOne Plugins you are well equipped to get the best out of your pics with an efficient workflow.

In as much as I am concerned, I guess I will not open my CS5.5 anymore.

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Facebook Page Publishing with New Timeline

As from March 30, Facebook pages will change their look and features. I have presented the new options at last week-end’s Ycademy Seminar. In order to take advantage of the new features, companies, brands or people in general must adapt to the new format and can optionally expand visibility and interactivity using a well thought publishing concept. The concept I am talking about is the Semiomantics Facebook Publishing Concept.

Semiomantics Facebook Publishing Concept

Semiomantics has been focused on developing high performance scripts for online publishing since 2008. Originally the main target was SEO to reach Google Top 10 listings and to gain high visibility and traffic on and from search engines.

Semiomantics main concern has always been to control and secure content and to make it available online in the customer’s own rights, rather than to entrust third party sites such as social networks with the content and letting them handle the publication. The second most important concern is productivity and an efficient workflow, allowing to edit and publish on one place only all content for the web (including the mobile web) and to channel it then to the different target locations, networks and sites.

The Semiomantics Facebook Publishing Concept is in line with Semiomantics proven SEO.

In the center of the concept we position the Semiomantics Publisher, a WordPress based website expanded with all necessary bells and whistles to communicate with Search Engines and Social Networks as well as with the Mobile Web.

The most popular base is Semiomantics XO, the semantic framework and theme developed since 2008. It is not what you add to Semiomantics XO but how you add it that makes the difference when it comes to plugins and add-on software. That’s why Semiomantics XO is mostly used for Customized Websites by professional Developers and Designers.

For the purpose of efficiently publishing to Facebook (and other social networks) Semiomantics has integrated, optimized  and further developed the best Facebook integration scripts out there, allowing to provide customers with an easy to use, homogeneous solution.

Once expanded with Social Media Publishing scripts, the Semiomantics publishing framework provides custom taxonomies specially designed for FB Content creating, publishing and managing. The idea behind this concept is, that all content is published on our own website and when the Facebook page is called, the traffic hits our own site.

From the Dashboard we can set-up an unlimited number of such pages easily and quickly using the same editor as we use for WP dynamic posts or pages.

To get the pages hooked and deeply integrated into Facebook, we need to use the Facebook App and OpenGraph features. Don’t worry, it’s easy to handle once set up:-).

So, once we have created our FB Page content on our website, we create a Facebook App and then a Facebook Page. We link the App with our Website (from the Dashboard) and with the Facebook Page. Adding our App to Favorites on Facebook, we end up with a Favorites Tab on timeline (to the right below the cover image).

Facebook Timeline Page

Facebook Timeline Pages let us display 3 Featured Tabs on the first line, the Photo tab being fixed and cannot be replaced. Using the small icon on the right of the tabs, the page reveals another 8 tabs for additional use and display of apps. There we will lodge our additional pages created on our Website.

We end up with a Facebook page with highly visible tabs leading to content on our website, be it a shop, images, videos, sliders or any other content. By interlinking the so created pages and apps we offer easy navigation for our Facebook readers and can provide all the content you would never want to entrust Facebook with or share a license with Facebook, like for example on your graphics, logos and other content. (See Facebook’s terms.)

The following post will detail the set-up and procedure.

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Ycademy: Facebook, WP and the Mobile Web

This month’s Ycademy Online Seminar will take place on March 24 and 25, starting at 1 pm London (GMT) time and ending at 21 pm London time on both days.

Some of our developers have asked for a program covering Social Networks, namely Facebook and the Mobile Web and how to take advantage of them to distribute, promote and gain high visibility with own content.

The Seminar will cover the following areas:

• Strategies for Individuals

• Strategies for Businesses

• Strategy for Brands

As you may know, Facebook will change  the rules of the game on March 31, when the new FB pages will be released (again!). In fact the new FB page format will be similar to the timeline format and a few important changes will be of utmost importance to businesses and promoters.

• New Facebook Cover Photo and Profile Image

• Larger, Highlighted and Pinned Posts

• Company Milestones

• New Applications

• Facebook Offers

• FB Insights, Admin Panel and Messaging

• Facebook Advertizing

If some of the above topics do not have a meaning for you, never mind: we will deal with them and make sure you are ready and up to date before March 31.

To the above Facebook on-board means we will add our own means.

The permanent changes of rules and features on Facebook have lead professionals a long time ago to structure and manage their assets outside of Facebook on a CMS or other appropriate website.

In as much as we are concerned, at the Seminar we will focus on consolidating our own assets on a WP CMS, typically XO or EVO by Semiomantics.

If you don’t talk about your business, someone else will do it — probably not the way you prefer. I guess there is no doubt in the business world about the necessity to take social networks seriously. Not for what they are, but for what users can do to your reputation. Internet promo often is based almost exclusively on testimonials and testimonials can take most any form and shape.

Word of mouth or viva voce has been a proven marketing strategy for ages.There are two principals to it:

1. A recommendation by a trusted person will trigger about the highest conversion rate. 
2. A lot of people blowing into the same horn cannot be wrong.

Ad 1: The most important term is “TRUSTED”; it’s not a matter of numbers but of authority and trust.

Ad 2: 800 Million people are trusting Facebook … 800 Million people cannot be wrong! How does that sound to you? Yeah, we have heard such like about most any product. The fact that the masses use a product will attract new masses by building on the humans’ herd instinct’. And it works! Like Hype works and Spam works. If it didn’t work, fewer people would spam or hype up the junk they are trying to get rid of.

So, how can we profit ethically from the herd instinct and from word of mouth marketing in connection with Facebook?

Join the Seminar to find out :-).

Focusing on one single platform or publishing environment is not enough. To reach out for a maximum of customers, readers or just interested visitors it is of paramount importance to build a strong presence on Search Engines and Social Networks. Equally important is to take into account the increasing importance of the mobile web.

Therefore we need to publish and interlink our content in an efficient way to display on mobile and static devices and at the same time we must optimize it for all sorts of Search Engines as well as Social Networks.

The Seminar will show you how to build an effective publishing network across platforms while preserving productivity.

As usual, just click on the image to get your ticket. Discounts as usual for Ycademy Pros; for the discount code please contact Bianca: bianca(at)ycademy.com

Ycademy Online Seminar March 2012

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Best Portfolio and Photo Custom Theme: Semiomantics EVO

WordPress offers a perfect backbone for Media Publishing and eCommerce on a single site.

Semiomantics Developments for WordPress assemble the best modules available to offer custom solutions to satisfy the needs of professionals. EVO is a theme base for custom design and development focusing namely on media producers, photographers, graphic and web designers.

Semiomantics EVO is based and inspired by the work of the best designers and developers out there who take advantage of the latest developments of WordPress, HTML5, CSS3, Java, Ajax and the mobile web.

Code and Scripts have been adapted and modified to satisfy Semiomantics’ highest standards of optimization for excellent publishing, targeting Search Engines and Social Networks.

Semiomantics EVO replaces the flash template Semiomantics Evo and constitutes a second cord on Semiomantics Arc.

The recent release of XO Edition 2012 remains the blockbuster product of Semiomantics in 2012; however we are working on a new XO which will replace XO 12. A new architecture will allow to eliminate some of the heavy plugins we are using at present with XO namely to satisfy the standards of mobile development.

Semiomantics EVO is the ideal platform for high quality editing, media publishing and eCommerce. Semiomantics Developers and Designers are invited to join the Ycademy February Online Seminar which is held this coming week-end.

Shoot Images and Videos with your camera or mobile device, load them to your EVO (can be done from the mobile device directly) and let EVO share your content with your friends and acquaintances on Social Networks without losing the control over your media or products. The shop is easily accessible, fully integrated and can also be added to your Facebook page for example.

Look out for more soon.

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New Semiomantics XO Theme for WordPress

The above Screenshots represent just some of the pages, features and looks the 2012 Edition of the high performance XO Theme for WordPress has up its sleeves. The above site is the fruit of the 2 Days Ycademy Online Seminar for Semiomantics Developers and designers.

The 2012 Edition of XO is focused on even more flexibility in as much as editing, cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility are concerned.

The Site displays perfectly on Mobile devices, showing responsiveness also of the plugged in scripts chosen of which some have been adapted to satisfy the high standards of Semiomantics Publishing Scripts for Excellence.

The site elaborated at the Ycademy Online Seminar this past week-end features some smashing features, such as:

• Background Slideshow, customizable for each page, post or archive
• Built in Directory
• Media Library for YouTube and Vimeo
• Pro-sliders which can be deployed anywhere on the site
• In addition to the responsive design, a separate light Mobile Version is available
• Bold and Efficient Navigation
• Built in Custom Fonts
• Social Network connectivity and publishing
• and much more.

The XO script is well commented and offers designers a clean and straight forward environment for custom developments. XO uses best practices for WordPress development and makes the best use of the possibilities offered by the WP back-bone, assuring smooth integration and optimized conflict handling.

XO is a great playground for designers. The DIY version allows anyone to adapt layout and colors to taste right from the back-office; there is no need to have any knowledge about coding or designing. The theme behaves like a Chameleon and adapts to specific needs with just a few clicks of the mouse: pre-configured layout elements transform your XO quickly into a Magazine, Newspaper, personal Author Blog, a Media Hub, a Shop, a Marketing Machine, a Social Media Publisher, a Product Promoter or a Fan Site or most anything your imagination dictates.

For the professional designer, XO offers a well commented environment. Custom code can be added right from the dashboard or, as I prefer using a child theme. XO is tuned for HTML5 and CSS3 use, making it a modern and inspiring framework for exceptional design effects.

Out of the box, the XO Theme for WordPress provides a stable and reliable, robust and optimized solution for common use. It provides built in features such a slider with multiple transitions and a one click selector for easy use.

Layouts can be easily adapted to needs and purpose of the site. In fact, most custom designers rely on the theme engine to format efficiently layouts.

The site featured in the above gallery uses a few pro plug-ins to add functionality in function of customer requirements. The integration of such add on scripts is a relatively simple process for designers and developers.

XO has been developed for high performance, productivity, excellence in publishing and flexibility. For the professional users, the XO Theme constitues a solid base with a huge potential for customization and creative artistic expression.

The release of XO Version 3.3.x is planned for the first week of February. The present Release Candidate has been thoroughly tested. A few minor issues will be taken care off before XO will be available to the public.

If your site is running on Semiomantics XO suing basic customization, the theme can just be overwritten. (Save your custom CSS beforehand.)

If you are using a custom version with custom developments or a child theme, some of your customization will need to be adapted to the enhancements of XO 2012. This concerns namely custom headers and footers as well as custom functions.

Support for developers and designers is available as usual at our Ycademy Online Calls and Seminars or through Semiomantics Pro Support.

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Semiomantics XO with CSS3 and HTML5

Time has come to learn about new technologies available for web designers and developers. All common browsers are increasingly able to read and interpret CSS 3 and HTML5 and about all computers are equipped to read java and jQuery. Therefore new possibilities become available to XO developers which we will focus on during the January Seminar.

XO has evolved over the past 4 years along with WordPress Developments. The theme has become responsive and shows perfectly on smart phones and tablets.

Subsequent to the release of WordPress 3.3.x XO needed some adjustments and updates which we have implemented and tested. New design functions become available for advanced customization. XO remains the most flexible theme for custom development, accessible to most anyone.

The goal of the seminar is to become familiar with XO and it’s new features as well as to learn how CSS3, HTML5 and jQuery allow to adapt XO to most any customer’s needs.

Some of the technical issues we will have a detailed look at are:

• Transparencies with CSS3
• Background Sliders
• Mobile Verions using WPTouch Pro
• Content and Frame sliders with Pro Slider and SlideDeck Pro
• Social Network connectivity with FacePages
• How to make a WP theme responsive (adapting to different screen sizes such as Smart Phones Tablets and bigger)

The most obvious expansions are via plug-ins. We will show how to make the best use of plug-ins for the Mobile Web, Social Networking, Social Media Publishing, Social Network Marketing as well as for more attractive display. Time permitting we will look into additional functions, such as shopping cart or marketing specific scripts.

We also will start looking into another important chapter:

How to convert your XO sites into a Mobile App!

In order to make the understanding easier, we will build a new site during the 2 days event. Please join our pre-seminar call on Thursday to prepare the event by setting up a new XO powered site.

All materials will be provided. You will just need some images/photos, videos and other content you may want to use to populate the XO site.

Saturday and Sunday, 28/29 January, 2012 from 1 pm London time till 9 pm London time.

Tickets are available on our new shop at HIOD.com. Please click on the below image to order.

Discounts as usual for Ycademy Pros: Please mail Bianca at bianca(at)ycademy.com for the coupon code.

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Animation for Beginners with After Effects

Since Disney’s hand-drawn animation, nothing has changed when it comes to the basic principles of animation. The success of Disney was not just in the design of Mickey and friends but in the way the characters were put into motion.

At Saturday’s Ycademy Seminar we will explain the

and see, how to apply them with After Effects.

Acceleration and deceleration is created with Easy Ease in and out functions is AE. The effect creates fluid motion.

Anticipation designs the action leading to the actual movement, like the backwards swing before hitting a ball with a golf club. Anticipation prepares the viewer for the action which will occur. Surprise actions can be more effective without anticipation.

Squashing and stretching blows life into a volume. The rule is, not to change the volume while designing the effect: a vertical squash goes with a horizontal stretch.

Objects tend to move along an arc, rather than along straight lines. In After Effects we animate along a path.

Straight Ahead Action refers to drawing frame by frame, while Pose to Pose refers to designing first the key-poses and then filling in the frames in-between, hence the terms of “keyframe” and “tweening”.”

Staging refers to the act of drawing the audiences attention to important actions or events in the movie. It has to do with camera positioning and handling and composition.

Well placed exaggeration can make movements more interesting.

Follow Through refers to the motion of objects after the action while Overlapping Action means that an action does not have to stop when or before another starts.

Secondary action makes the principal action more interesting. While the principal action may be a man walking, secondary actions could be arm swinging, movements with the head and so on.

Speed of action impacts on perception and emotion created. One of the most difficult principles to master, often expressed with the distance between two keyframes in After Effects.

This does not really refer to After Effects but to other programs you may use to draw objects, such as Photoshop.

Objects need to be appealing to draw in the audience. This is not only true for animated characters. The best animation is not eye-catching if what you show is not designed in an appealing or charismatic way.

After Effects is not just about motion, it’s about expression, design, appeal and emotion created. An animation designer is therefore a multi-tasker and the best are multi-talents!

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