# FlatRender Design & Motion R&D — Trends + Professional Craft

> Single-source R&D brief for the FlatRender Remotion engine (`services/remotion`). Stack: **Remotion 4 + `@remotion/three`** (R3F v9, `gl="angle"`), Persian-first (Vazirmatn, RTL), three mandatory aspects (16:9 / 1:1 / 9:16), color-customizable templates driven by `colorSchema` props. Operating context: **Iran** — geo-blocked CDNs, sanctioned SaaS dashboards, reachable Nexus mirror (`mirror.soroushasadi.com`). Render is headless Chrome in Docker, so **every value must be a pure function of `useCurrentFrame()`** and **every asset must be vendored** into `public/`.
>
> Existing grounding files: `src/lib/anim.ts`, `aspect.ts`, `branding.ts`, `fonts.ts`, `three-kit.tsx`, `kit.tsx`; templates in `src/templates.tsx`; `public/` currently holds only `fonts/`.

---

## The two meta-truths to keep over everything

1. **Imperfect-by-design beats glossy.** As feeds fill with AI-perfect imagery, deliberate imperfection — grain, texture, hand-rendered type, natural-feeling motion — now signals "a real human made this." Even fully-rendered templates win by *adding back* texture and human-feeling motion. Apply this lens to every trend below.
2. **A masterpiece is ~8 finishing layers, not one big thing.** Sound design, micro-easing, a design system, depth/lighting, color grade, pacing, a clear hero moment, and subtle texture. Amateurs stop at "the text animates in." We must finish all eight.

---

## 1) Design trends to adopt (each with a concrete how-to in our stack)

Every trend below survives all three aspects only if you anchor to safe-zone **percentages / `layout.vmin()`**, never absolute pixels. Read `../remotion-aspect-ratios/SKILL.md` before positioning anything.

### Typography (type is a first-class motion element, not a label)

| Trend | When to use | How in our stack |
|---|---|---|
| **Bold / oversized hero type** (fills 60–90% of frame, clipped by edges) | Logo reveals, promo hooks; strongest on 9:16 | `fitText` from `@remotion/layout-utils` to auto-scale a word to frame width; animate `scale`/`translateY` with `spring()`; parent `overflow:hidden` to clip. |
| **Variable-font animation** (`wght`/`wdth`/`slnt` over time) | Premium beat-synced intros | `style={{ fontVariationSettings: \`'wght' ${interpolate(frame,[0,30],[100,900])}\` }}`. **Vazirmatn ships a variable build** — animate its weight axis for Persian hero type. Load via `@font-face` (vendored in `public/fonts/`, never Google CDN at render). |
| **Kinetic typography** (word-by-word / line-by-line) | Quotes, captions, fast hooks | Split into spans; per-word `delay = i * staggerFrames`; drive each with `spring({frame: frame - delay, fps})`; combine `translateY` + `opacity` + slight `rotate`. `<Sequence>` per line for timeline clarity. |
| **Anti-AI / hand-rendered / scribbled** | Grunge/street/youth/music/events | Pre-make rough-edged SVG/PNG lettering; "draw" it on with a `clipPath`/mask wipe; add `filter:url(#displace)` (SVG `feTurbulence` + `feDisplacementMap`) with a per-frame jitter for photocopy wobble. |
| **Chrome / Y2K metallic type** | Hype, music, fashion, "premium" reveals | CSS: layered `linear-gradient` text fill via `background-clip:text` cycling silver→steel→highlight by shifting `background-position` per frame. For real reflections, use Three.js (see liquid-chrome below). |

### 3D / Blender-look (`@remotion/three`)

- **Real-time 3D logo reveals** — the default "premium intro." Render `<ThreeCanvas>`, drive camera/object rotation from `useCurrentFrame()` (**never `useFrame`**). Extrude logo via `TextGeometry`/extruded SVG shape, `meshStandardMaterial`, an HDRI `Environment`, `spring()`-driven entrance. Use our `StudioEnv/StudioLights/StudioFloor/StudioEffects` from `three-kit.tsx`.
- **"Plushcore" / soft-3D / claymation** — friendly counter to hard chrome. Pre-render GLTF in Blender (subsurface/soft shaders), import via `useGLTF`; bobbing idle = `Math.sin(frame/fps)` on position. 2D fake-3D = big soft inner-shadows + highlight gradients in CSS.
- **Mixed 2D/3D** — one of the strongest 2026 looks. Layer a `<ThreeCanvas>` behind/within absolutely-positioned 2D Remotion layers (SVG strokes, flat shapes); composite with blend modes.

### Surface & color treatments

- **Grain / texture / noise** — near-universal in 2026; add to almost everything, especially flat/gradient backgrounds. Cheap: tiling noise PNG overlay at low opacity with `mix-blend-mode: overlay`/`soft-light`. **Animated grain must move or it looks frozen** — offset `background-position` per frame, or SVG `feTurbulence` with a per-frame `seed`/`baseFrequency` jitter.
- **Mesh gradients** — soft multi-point blends (not linear), the sophisticated 2026 background. Pre-bake a mesh PNG and slowly drift/scale it, or animate live with a fragment shader in Three.js driven by `frame`. **Always add grain on top.**
- **Glassmorphism (evolved)** — used *selectively* (cards, lower-thirds), multi-layer depth, dynamic blur. `backdrop-filter: blur(16px) saturate(140%)`, semi-transparent `rgba` fill, 1px light top-border, soft shadow; animate blur radius + a moving specular highlight per frame; stack 2–3 panels at different parallax depths.
- **Retro / Y2K** — chrome + iridescent mesh gradient + occasional pixelate (`image-rendering:pixelated` on a downscaled layer) + sparkle SVG bursts. Music/fashion/Gen-Z/party greetings.
- **Anti-design / tactile brutalism** — hard `1px solid #000` borders, no radius, pure-saturated bg, system/monospace fonts, deliberate overlap. Motion is blunt — **hard cuts and `step`/`linear` snaps, not smooth springs.**
- **Mixed-media / collage** — PNG cutouts with rough edges as layers; "paper-drop" overshoot springs on slight rotation/scale; tape/staple SVGs, paper-grain overlay, occasional 1-frame jump-cut jitter.
- **Isometric** — `transform: rotateX(60deg) rotateZ(-45deg)` on stacked layers with `transform-style:preserve-3d`; stagger layer entrances; move elements along iso axes (matched X/Y deltas). Great for SaaS/feature explainers.
- **Kinetic / liquid / morph** — morphing blobs (animate SVG `path d` with `flubber`; gooey via `feGaussianBlur` + `feColorMatrix`). **Liquid chrome (top-5 2026 animation trend):** Three.js `meshStandardMaterial` `metalness:1, roughness:~0.05` + HDRI `Environment` on a morphing/`MeshDistort`-style geometry — color shifts as the camera moves.
- **AI-aesthetic vs anti-AI** — AI stills/clips as `<Img>`/`<OffthreadVideo>` backgrounds with Ken-Burns for surreal promos; lean into hand-type + grain + collage for trust/authenticity brands.

### Color direction 2026

- **Dopamine / electric accents** (electric blue, neon coral, acid yellow, vivid teal, cobalt) — as high-energy *accents* to guide the eye, never whole palettes.
- **Tech pastels** (lavender haze, powder blue, digital pink) — calm/mature, great for SaaS/UI promos.
- **Warm earth neutrals** (mocha/espresso/caramel/tan) — "quiet luxury," premium and human.
- **Strategy:** bold dopamine accent + neutral/pastel base + grain on top. **Avoid all-flat saturated fields — they read as AI/template.** All color comes from `colorSchema` props so the studio can recolor; pass a user's hex through a grade so a garish value doesn't break the look.

---

## 2) Animating anything (craft + the pro workflow)

### The one rule everything hangs on
A frame in Remotion is **pure**: `frame → pixels`. Motion is *evaluated* at an arbitrary frame, exactly the After Effects mental model (a keyframe graph sampled at time `t`). **Never** use `useFrame`, `Math.random()`, `Date.now()`, `setState`, or `useEffect`-driven motion — the renderer samples frames out of order and in parallel. Use `rand(seed)` from `anim.ts` for deterministic "randomness." If a value can't be derived from `frame`, it doesn't belong in the render.

### The 12 principles → Remotion (the four you reach for every shot in bold)

| Principle | Remotion expression |
|---|---|
| Squash & stretch | `scaleX`/`scaleY` inversely around an impact frame (conserve volume: `sx = 1/sy`) |
| **Anticipation** | Dip the value below its start before the main move |
| Staging | Stagger reveals; dim/blur everything but the hero |
| Straight-ahead vs pose-to-pose | `interpolate` between frames (keyed) vs per-frame formula (sim, e.g. `Confetti3D`) |
| **Follow-through & overlapping** | Same motion, **delayed per child** + a *looser* spring so parts settle later |
| **Slow in & slow out** | `Easing.bezier` / `spring()` — the single biggest quality lever |
| Arcs | Drive `y` with a `sin`/parabola while `x` moves linearly |
| Secondary action | A small `sin` bob/shimmer alongside the primary reveal |
| Timing | Frame count + spring `mass`/`damping` = weight & mood |
| **Exaggeration / overshoot** | Overshoot > 1.0, then settle to 1.0 |
| Solid drawing | `StudioLights` + reflective material + shadows (3D) |
| Appeal | Choreography + `StudioEffects` (bloom/DOF/vignette) + good type |

### `spring()` vs `interpolate()`
- **`interpolate`** — *you* author the curve. Use when a value must hit an exact mark on an exact frame (storyboard reveals, crossfades, value remaps). **Always set `extrapolateLeft/Right: "clamp"`** — forgetting this is the #1 cause of elements drifting off-screen or opacity going negative.
- **`spring`** — *physics* authors the curve. Use for organic entrances, pops, bounces.
- **Combine:** spring drives the *feel*, interpolate *remaps* its 0→1 output to real px/units: `const y = interpolate(spring(...), [0,1], [vmin(80), 0])`.

**Spring config cheat-sheet:**

| Feel | mass | damping | stiffness | Use for |
|---|--:|--:|--:|---|
| Snappy, no overshoot | 0.5 | 200 | 200 | Clean UI/logo reveals |
| Natural pop (slight overshoot) | 0.6 | 12 | 180 | **Default** cards/badges/icons |
| Bouncy / playful | 1 | 8 | 120 | Kids, birthday, mascots |
| Heavy / weighty | 2.5 | 26 | 90 | Big titles, 3D objects landing |
| Loose wobble (follow-through) | 1 | 6 | 80 | Secondary / trailing parts |

Lower damping = more overshoot; higher mass = heavier/slower; higher stiffness = faster snap.

### Easing cheat-sheet (linear is the sound of an amateur)
- **Entrances → ease-out** (`Easing.out(Easing.cubic)`), your default. Hero titles → `Easing.out(Easing.quint)` or `Easing.bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1)`.
- **Exits → ease-in** (`Easing.in(Easing.cubic)`), and **always sharper than the entrance** — things leave faster than they arrive.
- **A→B on-screen moves / camera → ease-in-out.**
- **Snappy "ta-da" → back/overshoot** `Easing.bezier(0.34,1.56,0.64,1)`.
- **Wind-up → anticipate** `Easing.bezier(0.36,0,0.66,-0.56)`.
- **Linear ONLY for mechanical continuous motion** — rotation, scroll, conveyor, marquee.

### Timing & frame budgets (30fps default — but use `sec(s)=Math.round(s*fps)`, never hardcode 30)
Micro pop 8–14f · standard reveal 18–28f · hero entrance 28–40f · scene transition 12–20f · hold = a comfortable read of the text. **Cut frames before you add them — amateurs over-animate.** Robotic = linear spacing; floaty/late = timing too long.

### The four quality multipliers (concrete patterns)
- **Anticipation:** `interpolate(frame,[0,6,30],[0,-0.12,1])` — small negative dip before launch.
- **Overshoot+settle:** the back bezier, or a low-damping spring. Ensure the curve *reaches and holds* the target (clamp) or it micro-drifts forever.
- **Follow-through:** drive children from the same trigger frame, **delay each** (`frame - start - i*stagger`) with a *looser* spring so they settle after the parent. Biggest "feels professional" upgrade for grouped elements.
- **Staggering / choreography:** default to a **cascade**; tune per aspect via a `pick(wide,square,tall)` helper (wider reads faster → tighter stagger; tall reads slower → looser). Patterns: cascade (lists), center-out (logos/hero rows), random-but-deterministic via `rand(i)` (particles), beat-synced (snap `start` to music beats). **One thing enters the eye at a time** — staging.

### 3D motion
Drive every transform off `useCurrentFrame()` (deterministic under ANGLE). Rotation/orbit = `linear` (mechanical); entrances/landings = `spring` with high mass for weight. Let `StudioEffects` (bloom + DOF + vignette) do the cinematic polish in one component.

### The pro workflow (5 passes, IN ORDER — polishing before timing is locked wastes the most time)
1. **Reference** — decide the feel before code; pull an AE template/Dribbble loop; pick style (`../remotion-design-styles/SKILL.md`), type (`../persian-fonts/SKILL.md`), composition (`../remotion-template-composition/SKILL.md`), per-aspect rules (`../remotion-aspect-ratios/SKILL.md`); write the beat list ("logo in → tagline → 3 features cascade → CTA → out").
2. **Blocking** — every element on screen at final position with crude `interpolate` fades, no easing. Fix off-screen/cropping in all three aspects now.
3. **Timing** — lock frame counts, stagger, beats, holds, transitions. Watch at full speed repeatedly. Mood lives here.
4. **Polish** — swap linear for easing/springs; add anticipation+overshoot+settle, follow-through, secondary motion, arcs, squash/stretch; `StudioEffects` for 3D; wire SFX (`../remotion-sound-effects/SKILL.md`) and music sync (`../remotion-music-picker/SKILL.md`) to the locked frames.
5. **Review** — scrub frame-by-frame + full speed. Nothing pops without an ease; nothing leaves slower than it arrived; the eye always knows where to look; reads in all three aspects; Persian RTL not clipped; colors from `colorSchema`; re-render twice → identical (deterministic). Then run `../flatrender-template-seo/SKILL.md`.

### Top amateur mistakes → fixes (review gate)
Linear motion → ease/spring · no anticipation/overshoot → dip-then-launch / back bezier · everything on one frame → stagger · forgot `clamp` → clamp both ends · hardcoded 30fps → `useVideoConfig().fps` · `useFrame`/`random`/`Date.now` → `useCurrentFrame` + `rand` · pixel-hardcoded sizes → `vmin`/`unit` + branch on `isWide/isSquare/isTall` · over-animating → one idea per beat · no hold → real hold sized to reading · exit = entrance speed → exits sharper · dead holds → `sin` bob/breathe/shimmer · flat 3D lighting → `StudioLights` + floor shadows + `StudioEffects` · color hardcoded → read from props.

---

## 3) Asset pipeline (collecting + designing footage, Iran-aware)

### The Iron Rule
The Iran environment punishes runtime dependencies. **All assets are vendored** — download once (over VPN if needed), commit into `services/remotion/public/`, reference with `staticFile()`. **Never** `<Video src="https://somecdn..." />` in a template — a geo-block or flaky tunnel kills the render mid-frame. Mirror npm/NuGet/Docker via Nexus; asset *binaries* are sourced manually and committed. **Track licenses at acquisition time, not later.**

### License taxonomy (know cold)
- **Ship freely, no attribution:** CC0 / Public Domain, Pixabay License, Pexels License, Unsplash License. **Default target.**
- **Allowed with a credit:** CC-BY (track per-asset; needs attribution UI/end-card).
- **Off-limits:** CC-BY-SA (share-alike can "infect" our proprietary template), CC-BY-NC (we are a paid product = commercial), editorial/rights-managed.
- **Paid stock (Envato/Adobe/Shutterstock):** allowed per license; keep the receipt/license PDF. Note their dashboards/checkout often geo-block Iran at the account/payment layer even with a VPN — use a foreign-established account or a partner.

### Sourcing (CC0 / no-attribution first)
- **Footage:** Pexels Videos (first stop), Pixabay Video, Mixkit, Coverr (check AI badge), Free Nature Stock, Videvo (filter to CC0). Pick exact resolution (don't ship 4K into a 1080p comp), prefer **H.264 MP4** for `<OffthreadVideo>`, commit under `public/footage/`.
- **Images:** Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, StockSnap, Burst. For Persian/Iran imagery search English terms ("Tehran", "Iranian food") + self-shot/local stock.
- **Textures & overlays:** Poly Haven Textures (CC0), ambientCG (CC0); grain/light-leak/dust = CC0 video clips you screen-blend.
- **HDRIs:** Poly Haven (1k–2k for render speed), ambientCG.
- **3D (GLB):** Poly Haven Models (CC0, cleanest), Kenney.nl (CC0 low-poly), Khronos glTF samples, Sketchfab (**mixed — check each**, filter Downloadable + CC0/CC-BY). **Prefer GLB over glTF+separate-textures** (one file, no broken paths); Draco-compress with `gltf-pipeline -b`; keep low-poly for headless render speed.
- **Icons (bundle via Nexus npm, never CDN):** Lucide, Tabler, Heroicons, Phosphor, Iconoir. **Illustrations (recolorable SVG):** unDraw, Open Peeps, Humaaans — ship as SVG so the studio color picker recolors them (`../remotion-svg-colors/SKILL.md`).

**Iran access:** generally reachable — Pixabay, Mixkit, Coverr, Poly Haven, ambientCG, npm via Nexus. VPN-recommended/intermittent — Pexels, Unsplash, Sketchfab, GitHub raw. Sanction-blocked at account/payment — Adobe Stock, Envato. **Mitigation: batch all sourcing in one "asset run" over a stable tunnel, commit binaries, render never touches the open internet again.**

### AI-generated assets — when it's right
- **Use when:** the asset doesn't exist as stock (specific Persian cultural scene, branded mascot), you need consistency across a template set (reference-image controls), or it's faster than a 5-site license hunt.
- **Don't use when:** clean CC0 stock already exists, you need photographic authenticity, or the **free-tier commercial license is unclear** (many free tiers forbid commercial use / watermark — a legal landmine for a paid product).
- **Iran-pragmatic recommendation: locally-hosted open models** — **HunyuanVideo 1.5** (self-hosted, ~RTX 4090, no geo-block/payment/watermark, full commercial control) for video; **FLUX/SDXL** locally for image/texture/illustration. Use hosted SaaS (Runway Gen-4, Kling 3.0) only when local quality is insufficient and a VPN+foreign-account path exists. **Always record prompt + tool + plan-tier + date** in the asset's sidecar.

### Designing & preparing footage in Remotion
- **Media primitives:** `<OffthreadVideo>` = **default for all video in a render** (FFmpeg frame extraction, deterministic, no seek drift). `<Video>` = preview only. `<Img>` over raw `<img>` (waits for load → no half-loaded frames). `staticFile()` for every vendored asset; never an external URL in a shipped template.
- **Color grading:** per-layer CSS `filter` + blend modes (`contrast/saturate/brightness/hue-rotate`). Build a shared `lib/grades.ts` preset set (`warm`, `teal-orange`, `mono`, `filmic`) so all templates grade consistently and the palette can drive `hue-rotate`/`saturate`. Heavy grading → pre-grade in DaVinci Resolve (free) before committing.
- **Masking / keying:** no native keyer — pre-key in Resolve/AE and export **alpha** (ProRes 4444 or WebM/VP9 alpha), then `<OffthreadVideo>` it. Shape/gradient masks via CSS `maskImage`/`clipPath` or SVG `<mask>`.
- **Seamless loops:** source loop-designed clips (Coverr/Mixkit) or crossfade-to-self with overlapping `<Sequence>`s; mirror-pingpong for imperfect footage. `<OffthreadVideo loop>` once first/last frames match.
- **Overlays (the cheap "authentic" layer):** stack grayscale-on-black/white clips — **screen** for light-leaks/bokeh/dust, **overlay/soft-light** for grain, **multiply** for vignettes/paper. Keep palette-independent.
- **Ken-Burns:** `interpolate` scale (start ≥ 1 overscan so no edge reveals) + translate; ease with `spring`/bezier; `objectFit:cover` + center-safe framing so all three aspects crop cleanly.
- **Performance (headless Docker):** right-sized media, H.264 + `<OffthreadVideo>`, 1k–2k HDRIs, Draco GLB; raise `concurrency` carefully and watch RAM.

### Library structure + attribution firewall
Create under `services/remotion/public/` (today only `fonts/`): `footage/{nature,business,abstract}/`, `overlays/`, `images/`, `textures/`, `hdri/`, `models/`, `icons/`, `illustrations/`, plus **`assets.json` + `ASSETS.md`**. Lowercase-kebab names, no spaces.

**`assets.json` — one row per asset, added at download time** (`file, source, url, author, license, attribution_required, commercial_ok, acquired, notes`). Conventions: every asset gets a row (no row = "unknown license = do not ship"); `attribution_required:true` must surface its credit on a shippable surface; sidecar `.license.txt` for AI prompts / paid receipts. **CI validation script** asserts every file in the media folders has a matching row with `commercial_ok:true`, else fails the build — this is the license firewall. `ASSETS.md` is a generated readable table for humans/legal. If the repo bloats, move large media to Git LFS or MinIO (already in stack) with a `predeploy` sync into `public/` — but present at render time.

---

## 4) Masterpiece production + platform playbook

### The 8 production-value layers (what separates "made in a tool" from "made by a studio")
1. **Sound design + beat-sync** — the fastest "professional" tell. Beat-sync every key reveal (map BPM, keyframe on beat boundaries — hero on a downbeat); layered SFX (whoosh on transitions, thump on hard cuts, sparkle on shine sweeps, riser into the hero, pop on icon entrances); **ducking** (music dips under VO/key sound); **silence before the hero reveal** makes the payoff hit harder.
2. **Micro-detail** — easing never linear; overshoot & settle; staggered 2–5f entrances; secondary motion (shadow/contents react); anticipation.
3. **Design system** — one type scale (4–5 sizes), one spacing rhythm, constrained palette (1 primary + 1–2 accents + neutrals), consistent radii/strokes/elevation; Persian-first type handled deliberately (Vazirmatn + matched Latin pairing, not one font stretched across scripts).
4. **Depth & lighting** — layered parallax (bg/mid/fg different speeds), soft directional shadows with one consistent light direction, atmospheric depth (bg blur/desaturate, fg sharp/saturated), rim light on hero.
5. **Color grade** — one unified grade over the whole comp (not per-element colors fighting); lifted/tinted shadows, controlled highlights, deliberate temperature; user hex still passes through the grade.
6. **Pacing / rhythm** — vary cut length, build to a climax, match cut rhythm to music, trim ruthlessly.
7. **A clear hero moment** — one designated peak (logo/price-drop/product/CTA) with the biggest motion, strongest hit, often silence before, most screen real-estate. Flat = nothing lands.
8. **Finishing texture (subtle!)** — low-opacity film grain, gentle vignette, 1–2px chromatic aberration strongest at impacts, tiny continuous camera drift (frame alive, not locked), sparing light-leaks/bokeh, motion blur on fast elements (its absence is a classic amateur tell).

### Pre-ship polish checklist (if you can't tick it, it's not done)
- **Motion:** no linear easing anywhere; staggered entrances; motion blur on fast elements; ≥1 overshoot-and-settle; nothing pops on/off without a transition.
- **Audio:** BPM mapped, reveals on beat; whoosh on every scene change; accent SFX on hero; music ducks under VO, no clipping, clean end.
- **Composition/design system:** verified in 16:9 / 1:1 / 9:16 (not a letterboxed 16:9); text in platform safe zones; consistent scale/spacing/radii/shadows; constrained palette; FA + EN both correct (RTL, font, numerals).
- **Depth & grade:** consistent light direction; bg depth treatment; unifying grade over the comp.
- **Pacing & hero:** one unmistakable hero; varied cuts matched to music; engaging first frame (it's the thumbnail).
- **Finishing:** subtle grain OR vignette present; frame alive; aberration/light-leak at transitions if style allows.
- **Technical/QA:** clean render at target res (no flicker/z-fighting/font fallback); all editable fields (text/logo/image/colors) swap without breaking layout; longest text doesn't overflow, shortest doesn't look empty; loops cleanly if meant to.

### Platform playbook (2026)
All vertical = **1080×1920, 9:16**. **First frame = the hook = the cover.** High-contrast captions (white/yellow, black outline) in the lower-middle third are the cross-platform default.

| Platform | Length sweet spot | Hook / retention | Safe zone (1080×1920) | Template implication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **IG Reels** | 7–15s punchy; 30–90s for depth (up to 90s) | First 2–3s decide stay/swipe; cleaner/less-cluttered text than TikTok; rewards 3-sec view rate + completion | ~108 top, ~320 bottom, ~60 L, ~120 R; hook text Y≈200–600 | Cleaner kinetic type, mesh-gradient + glass lower-thirds, refined transitions |
| **IG Story** | full-bleed | heavy UI chrome | avoid top ~250 (profile) + bottom ~250 (reply/link) | design poll/quiz/link sticker zones into layout |
| **IG Feed post** | — | first caption line is the hook | — | Portrait **4:5 (1080×1350)** standard; 1:1 for grid consistency |
| **TikTok** | 15–30s engagement; 11–18s virality; ≤60s educational | **3-second rule**; curiosity-gap / bold-claim hooks; word-by-word captions beat full sentences | keep right ~120, bottom ~320 clear of key content | calm neutral grain+warm-earth variant; **word-by-word captions as a first-class editable layer** |
| **YT Shorts** | 15–35s | **no runway** — open on the most compelling moment; intro retention >70%, completion >60% (<30s) | center within middle ~1080×1350; clear bottom UI + right buttons | cinematic 3D logo reveals, graded looks |
| **YT long-form intro** | — | cold-open hook in first 5–15s; branded sting <3s | — | state payoff first, brand second |
| **YT end screen** | last 5–20s | — | leave clean plate (lower + right) for subscribe/next/playlist | reserve an end-card-safe zone |
| **All three** | drifting to **60–90s** | authenticity > perfection, phone-feel > studio, natural light, cinematic grading | — | hook in first 1–2s; grain/texture everywhere; support longer durations; safe-zone all text |

**Cross-platform synthesis rules:** (1) design to the *tightest* safe zone (Story/TikTok), then it's safe everywhere; (2) first frame = the hook = the cover; (3) front-load the payoff, no preamble; (4) captions are a first-class editable layer (word-by-word), not an afterthought; (5) one template, **three real aspects** — re-flow, never letterbox.

---

## 5) Prioritized "level up our skills + templates" action list

Ordered by ROI. Each item ties to our stack and the relevant skill file.

**Tier 0 — foundation infra (do first; unblocks everything else)**
1. **Establish the asset library + license firewall.** Create the `public/{footage,overlays,images,textures,hdri,models,illustrations}` tree, `assets.json` + `ASSETS.md`, and the **CI validation script** (`commercial_ok` + matching-row check). Do one batched VPN "asset run" of a CC0 starter pack (grain/light-leak/dust overlays, 3–4 mesh-gradient PNGs, a few Poly Haven HDRIs + GLBs, business/nature/abstract footage). *(Asset pipeline §3.)*
2. **Promote shared helpers into `lib/`.** Add `pick(wide,square,tall)` onto `Layout` in `aspect.ts` (currently only `isWide/isSquare/isTall/vmin/unit`); create `lib/grades.ts` (warm/teal-orange/mono/filmic + palette-driven `hue-rotate/saturate`); confirm `rand`/`hexToRgba`/`mixHex` in `anim.ts` cover deterministic needs. *(Animation §2, Asset §3.)*
3. **Stand up a local AI-asset box** (HunyuanVideo 1.5 + FLUX/SDXL) so bespoke Persian/branded assets don't depend on geo-blocked SaaS. *(Asset §3.)*

**Tier 1 — highest-ROI template work**
4. **Build a "captions" engine as a reusable first-class layer** — word-by-word kinetic captions, high-contrast white/yellow + black outline, lower-middle-third, safe-zoned for all platforms, beat-syncable. This is currently an afterthought and is the biggest cross-platform win. *(Masterpiece §4, Animation §2.)*
5. **Ship the "kinetic oversized type + grain" template** — every aspect, cheap (CSS), uses variable Vazirmatn weight-animation for Persian hero type. Highest ROI per the trends brief. *(Trends §1, Animation §2.)*
6. **Codify the pre-ship polish checklist + 8 layers into a review gate** (extend `../flatrender-template-seo/SKILL.md`'s publish step, or a new lint pass) so no template ships without easing, beat-synced audio, three-aspect verification, and a hero moment. *(Masterpiece §4.)*
7. **Sound-design pass on the existing pack** — wire `../remotion-music-picker/SKILL.md` BPM mapping + `../remotion-sound-effects/SKILL.md` placement + ducking into our current templates. Fastest "professional" upgrade to what already exists. *(Masterpiece §4.)*

**Tier 2 — premium differentiation**
8. **3D logo-reveal template + a liquid-chrome variant** on `@remotion/three` + HDRI (`three-kit.tsx` `StudioEnv/Lights/Floor/Effects`), all motion off `useCurrentFrame()`. Premium tier. *(Trends §1, Animation §2.)*
9. **Mesh-gradient + glass lower-third promo** — clean modern, IG-friendly, palette-driven, grain on top. *(Trends §1.)*
10. **Grunge / collage / anti-AI pack** — rides the authenticity wave for youth/music; uses hand-type, paper overlays, deterministic jitter. *(Trends §1.)*

**Tier 3 — craft & process maturity**
11. **Adopt the 5-pass workflow (reference → blocking → timing → polish → review) as the team norm**, and seed a reference library (AE templates / Dribbble loops) per template type. *(Animation §2.)*
12. **Per-aspect tuning audit** of existing templates — stagger + scale via `pick`, re-flow not letterbox, confirm Persian RTL never clips. *(Animation §2, `../remotion-aspect-ratios/SKILL.md`.)*
13. **Color system discipline** — enforce dopamine-accent-+-neutral/pastel-base + grain-overlay defaults; run user hex through the grade so no garish value breaks a look. *(Trends §1, Masterpiece §4.)*

---

## Sources

**Trends:** [Envato — Motion Trends 2026](https://elements.envato.com/learn/motion-design-trends) · [MonkyVision](https://monkyvision.com/blog/motion-design-trends/) · [GraphicDesignJunction](https://graphicdesignjunction.com/2026/01/video-and-motion-creative-trends-2026/) · [Krumzi](https://www.krumzi.com/blog/12-graphic-design-trends-shaping-2026-and-how-ai-is-changing-the-game) · [It's Nice That](https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/forward-thinking-graphic-trends-2026-graphic-design-120126) · [Fontfabric](https://www.fontfabric.com/blog/10-design-trends-shaping-the-visual-typographic-landscape-in-2026/) · [Kittl](https://www.kittl.com/blogs/graphic-design-trends-2026/) · [StudioMeyer](https://studiomeyer.io/en/blog/webdesign-trends-2026) · [Envato — 3D Trends](https://elements.envato.com/learn/3d-design-trends) · [Patata School](https://www.patataschool.com/blender-typography-in-motion) · [Lummi — Animation Trends](https://www.lummi.ai/blog/animation-trends-2026) · [Fireart — Tactile Brutalism](https://fireart.studio/blog/the-best-web-design-trends/) · [AND Academy — Color](https://www.andacademy.com/resources/blog/graphic-design/color-trends-for-designers/) · [Gelato — Colors](https://www.gelato.com/blog/trending-colors) · [Adobe Express — Color of Year](https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/color-of-year-trends) · [ALM Corp — Short-form](https://almcorp.com/blog/short-form-video-mastery-tiktok-reels-youtube-shorts-2026/) · [ShortSync](https://www.shortsync.app/resources/short-form-video-trends-2026) · [Sprout Social](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-trends/) · [FrameFlow](https://frameflowedit.com/article/top-5-video-editing-trends-in-2026)

**Assets:** [Colorlib — Stock Video](https://colorlib.com/wp/best-free-stock-video-sites/) · [FreeConvert](https://www.freeconvert.com/blog/best-stock-video-sites/) · [Moonb](https://www.moonb.io/blog/best-stock-video-sites) · [awesome-cc0](https://github.com/madjin/awesome-cc0) · [Poly Haven](https://polyhaven.com/) · [Poly Haven License](https://polyhaven.com/license) · [Khronos glTF Samples](https://github.com/khronosgroup/gltf-sample-models) · [11 Free 3D Asset Sites](https://dev.to/markyu/11-free-3d-asset-sites-for-games-blender-and-webgl-ah2) · [Iran censorship (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Iran) · [Iran tiered internet (Rest of World)](https://restofworld.org/2026/iran-blackout-tiered-internet/) · [Tech sanctions sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1b9tetXkMg4PB_XyWcsC_UWGv45MX3pZmasnDBhyQxlY/edit) · [Blocked in Iran](https://www.irun2iran.com/websites-and-social-media-blocked-in-iran/) · [AI Video 2026](https://aiunpacking.com/guides/ai-video-generation-sora-runway-kling-veo/) · [Best AI Video (PixVerse)](https://pixverse.ai/en/blog/best-ai-video-generators) · [Best AI Video (Pixflow)](https://pixflow.net/blog/best-ai-video-generator/)

**Masterpiece + platform:** [IG Safe Zone (Outfy)](https://www.outfy.com/blog/instagram-safe-zone/) · [Reels Safe Zones (TryMyPost)](https://www.trymypost.com/blog/instagram-reels-safe-zones-text-placement-2026) · [IG Reel Size (InVideo)](https://invideo.io/blog/instagram-reel-size-guide/) · [IG Story Dimensions (AdMake)](https://admakeai.com/blog/instagram-story-dimensions-2026) · [TikTok Length (Go-Viral)](https://www.go-viral.app/blog/tiktok-video-length/) · [TikTok 3-Second Rule (2Point)](https://www.2pointagency.com/glossary/tiktok-creative-best-practices-the-3-second-rule/) · [TikTok Hooks (Selfstorming)](https://www.selfstorming.com/guides/social-media-hooks/tiktok-video-hooks) · [TikTok Captions (Blitzcut)](https://blitzcutai.com/blog/best-caption-style-tiktok) · [Shorts Length (OpusClip)](https://www.opus.pro/blog/ideal-youtube-shorts-length-format-retention) · [Shorts Best Practices (Miraflow)](https://miraflow.ai/blog/youtube-shorts-best-practices-2026-complete-guide) · [Shorts Safe Zone (Kreatli)](https://kreatli.com/guides/youtube-shorts-safe-zone) · [Post Production (Balance Studio)](https://www.balancestudio.tv/blog/color-grading-sound-mixing-motion-graphics-what-youre-really-paying-for-in-post-production) · [Sound Design in Motion (GUVI)](https://www.guvi.in/blog/sound-design-in-motion-graphics/)

**Stack files referenced:** `D:\Projects\Flatrender2\services\remotion\src\lib\{anim,aspect,branding,fonts}.ts`, `three-kit.tsx`, `kit.tsx` · `src\templates.tsx` · asset root to create: `services\remotion\public\` (currently only `fonts\`) · manifest to create: `services\remotion\public\{assets.json,ASSETS.md}` · suggested: `src\lib\grades.ts`.