1. Introduction

Hey, welcome to Motion Array! We’re thrilled you applied to become an Artist. At Motion Array, we have specific upload rules that must be followed for approval. This document is designed to help you get your templates approved efficiently.

Although this document might seem overwhelming at first, it’s actually quite straightforward. We’ve addressed some of the most common issues we encounter when onboarding new artists. Video tutorials are attached to the bottom of each slide, providing clear and concise instructions on setting up your template to avoid receiving “Needs Work” notes. We highly recommend watching these videos to minimize the chances of receiving such notes.

Following this guide will ensure a much smoother onboarding process. We wish you all the best with your onboarding and look forward to a long and successful partnership!

2. Upload Rules

• Please familiarize yourself with our uploads rules page. You can see our template upload rules here.

• Ensure your package meets all of the necessary requirements.

• You can download the example After Effects package from here.

• You can download the example After Effects generic instructions PDF from here.

3. Submission Information

• Product Name: Should be unique to each submission. Please do not use version numbers

• Descriptions: Descriptions should be unique to each submission. Do not copy and paste descriptions from one submission to another.

• Sub-Categories: Only select categories that relate to your submission.

• Tags: Only include tags that relate to your submission and what it contains. 

• Resolution: Please select the correct resolution size for your submission if your submission contains multiple resolutions sizes, please select one resolution size that is applicable to your submission.

• Version: Please submit your template in the same version you have marked in the description box

• Associated Music: Please use a different music track with each submission.

Submission Information: You can view it here.

4. Thumbnail Image

• Please do not include any software, 4K or HD logos in the thumbnail image.

• Remove any external marketplaces text/logos.

• We advise creating a professional looking thumbnail image that accurately represents what the template contains rather than using one of the automatically generated images created when uploading your preview movie.

• Focus on using striking visuals, matching typography, and a balanced layout that instantly captures attention and communicates the core message of your template.

• When choosing media ensure that they align with the style and theme of your template.

• Check for typos and ensure good grammar.

Thumbnail Image Article : You can view it here.

5. Preview Movies

• Create a professional looking preview movie that accurately represents what the template contains - remove noise, grain, film burns, etc. if they are not included in the package.

• Remove any external marketplaces text/logos.

• Do not include tracked elements in the preview movie, this requires advanced knowledge of the software and users often struggle to recreate the same results.

• Use different music tracks on each submission. Motion Array has a wide variety of music to suit a range of templates.

• Please use our generic set of logos that have been provided in the example package.

• Please only use preview images/videos from one of our accepted sites, such as pexels, unsplash, pixabay and Motion Array's library that you have the license to use. Please avoid using images/videos generated by AI.

6. Bullet Point Descriptions

The description should follow this structure:

One descriptive line mentioning effect type/specifics and artstyle. (Optional)

• No’ of stories/scenes/slides/overlays/lower thirds/titles/icons/elements/backgrounds

• Media placeholders

• Text placeholders

• Logo placeholders

• Color Control
  

• Do not mention the number of text/media/logo placeholders if it contains a set of stories/scenes/slides/titles/lower thirds etc as these can vary from animation to animation.

• Mention if there is something unique added to the template, for example, adaptive resolution, controller options etc.

Check out the article about Bullet Point Descriptions.

7. Folder Structure

Please ensure you follow Motions Array's package structure. The zip folder should include the following:

After Effects folder: This should contain the After Effects project file and all of the associated assets are contained within the footages folder. The project file should be named after the title of your submission.

Fonts folder: A .txt/.rtf document with links to the fonts used in the project.

Help folder: This should contain our generic instructions PDF, A .txt/.rtf document with direct links to the media used in the preview movie. A video tutorial that is specific to the submission. 

Folder Structure: You can view it here. 

8. Font Links

• Please submit the font links in a .txt .rtf document and include the entire URL.

• Please ensure the font you linked to in the font document is the same version used in your template.

• All the fonts used in the project must have a link in the fonts document. 

• Do not include links to fonts that are not used in your template.

• Fonts must be 100% free for personal and commercial use. Please remove all references to fonts that are not free for personal and commercial use from your package and preview movie. 

• You can use sites like Adobe, Google, Dafont, Font Squirrel, etc. 

• Fonts must be quick and easy to download for our users. Font links must not take you off site or require our users to sign up to the website in order to download them.

9. Video Tutorials

• The video tutorial must be 100% specific to the template you have submitted. Place it into the “Help” folder.

• The video tutorial should be at a high enough resolution, so the user can easily follow.

• The video tutorial should include importing images/videos, editing text, logos and any other main features of your template for example:

  - Using unique controllers that are specific to your template.

  - Showing our users how to cut images using the pen tool inside of AE.

  - Relinking elements in Element 3D.

• The video tutorial file size should not exceed 10MB. Convert it into an .mp4, compress, and reduce the resolution size. You can use programs like “Bandicam” to capture your video tutorial, then use programs like “Handbrake” to reduce the size.

10. Project Structure

Project structures should be neat and well organized. This makes it easier for our users to navigate and it's crucial that it remains consistent. 

Please follow this project structure;

'01.Editable Comps': Contains all of the editable compositions and includes folders: Color, Text, Media, Logo, Music when applicable.

'02.Final Comps': Contains the final compositions our users will use to export their media. 

'03. Others': Contains every asset used to make your project that our users do not need to edit.

Project Structure: You can view it here.

11. Text Placeholders

• Text placeholders should be neat and well organized. 

• Text placeholders should be sized accordingly.

• Text compositions should be tightly aligned to the text layer. 

• If a user uses the entire space provided in the text composition the design should not break and elements should not overlap each other where they aren’t meant to. 

• Text animation should be applied using the animate panel or directly to the text compositions. Animation should not be applied to the text transform properties.

• Permanently rasterize the text compositions where ever it is applicable.

• Text layers should not be limited by mask/matte layers.

Text Placeholders: You can view it here.

12. Media Placeholders

• The media placeholders should be named by order of their appearance. This makes it easier for our users to navigate inside the project.

• The media placeholders should accurately represent the amount of media we see in the final composition.

• The media placeholders should not contain any media-altering effects layers such as adjustment layers with tinting effects.

• The media placeholders should only contain the user's final media.

• The media placeholders should not be limited by mask/matte layers.

• Please do not scale the media placeholders over 100% inside of the final compositions as this can make the media appear blurry.

Media Placeholders: You can view it here.

13. Logo Placeholders

• The logo placeholder should accurately represent the amount of logos we see in the final composition.

• The logo placeholder should not contain any logo-altering effects layers such as adjustment layers with tinting effects.

• The logo placeholder should only contain the user's final media.

• The logo placeholders should not be limited by mask/matte layers.

• Please do not scale the logo placeholders over 100% inside of the final compositions, this makes the logo appear blurry.

Logo Placeholders: You can view it here.

14. Color Controllers

• Please only use color controller options from the expression and controls.

• Naming your controller options is helpful for our users to understand what they control and what they operate. 

• Please add any elements you think our users might want to edit the color off. This includes: text, image tinting effects, strokes, background elements and colors. 

• It is important that you test that your controller options are working as intended and that they are linked to the correct elements within the scene. 

Color Controllers: You can view it here.

15. Expression Checker

• Please run an expression checker to remove any potential expression errors. Expression Errors can appear when the project is opened in a different language version.

• You can purchase the one we use at Motion Array from here. 

Expression Checker: You can view it here.

16. Collecting Your Template

• Please remove all unused compositions and unused files from your template.

• The template should not be missing any files. You can collect the project using the following method:

  File>Dependencies>Collect Files>For All Compositions.

• Collect the project to a new location to ensure that it gathers all of the relevant assets needed to use your template.

Have any questions? Feel free to contact us at content@motionarray.com.