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 DaVinci Resolve package from here.

• You can download the example DaVinci Resolve 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.

Bullet Point Descriptions: Article. You can view it here.

7. Folder Structure

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

DaVinci Resolve .dra project folder: Should contain the archive of project and the assets used in it. Must have been saved using the “Export Project Archive” method.

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. And our fonts installation video, which can be downloaded here.

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.

• To avoid users having the Black Screen error in DaVinci Resolve:

  • 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 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 project 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.

• At the start, include a section that shows how to install the fonts used in the template.

• Show how to open the template using the “Restore Project Archive” method.

• The 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 masks in the Color workspace.

• 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 for Color, Logo, Media, Music and Text, if 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. 

• All text animations must be created using modifiers in Fusion, so that there aren't any keyframes in the parameters editable through the Inspector panel.

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 placeholder should accurately represent the amount of media we see in the final composition.

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

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

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

Media Placeholders: You can view it here.

13. Logo Placeholders

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

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

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

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

• 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

• Color controllers must be done as timelines or parameters in the Inspector panel.

• Naming your color timelines 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. Exporting Your Template

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

• Please remove any media used as example in the preview movie or video tutorial.

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

  File>Project Manager>(Right-click over your project)>Export Project Archive>(Select a location)>(Select only option “Media Files”)>Ok  

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

16. Common Issues For Users

• Black Screen Font Issue: it happens when a font originally used in the project wasn’t installed. 

  • It’s very important to include all fonts used in the project in the Fonts document.

  • It can also be due to a difference between the font version used by the Artist and the version from the link provided in the Fonts document - they should both come from the same source.

• Missing files or media links:

  • Make sure to export your Project Archive correctly, as this should be the only option for users to open the template.

• Slow projects: some Fusion node structures and large media files can slow down the editing process.

  • Make sure to keep your node builds as simple as possible and convert any assets used in the project to .jpg, .png or .mp4.

Common Problems In DaVinci Resolve: You can view it here.

• Templates must be created in the free version of DaVinci Resolve. Some effects exclusive to the paid version won't work in the free version.

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