Plan the Motion Before the Cover Is Finished

Coming up with an idea for a motion cover is easier than most artists expect, because it usually rests on ordinary actions. A car drives. A plane flies. Rain falls. Unless your concept is abstract, the motion is usually already implied by the scene.

Why the order matters

When the designer knows from the beginning what the finished animation should look like, they plan the artwork for it. They work out in advance which parts will be difficult, and they build the piece so that your idea comes out as strong as it can. That is only possible while the artwork is still being made.

What happens if you decide late

A finished static cover constrains what can move. Elements that needed to be on separate layers are merged, the composition may not leave room for the movement, and the animation ends up as whatever the existing file allows rather than what you wanted.

So decide before you commission

Before the cover goes into production, think about what you want happening in the video and what should be going on in the background. It makes the work easier and it makes the result better.