Week 6 • Polish Phase • October 14, 2026

Polish & Refinement

Secondary Motion, VFX, and Color Grading. Your primary animation should be locked -- now make it shine.

The Goal

By the end of this week, your primary keyframing should be done. This is your last chance to add secondary animation, clean up timing, apply color grading, and finesse before the final delivery next week.

The Polish Checklist

Motion Polish

Easing: Check every keyframe. No linear motion unless intentional.
Secondary Animation: Add supporting movements (swaying, settling, particles).
Follow Through: Loose parts should keep moving after the main body stops.
Timing & Rhythm: Does the pacing match your audio? Sync to the beat.

Visual Polish

Color Grading: Apply a unified look. Use adjustment layers.
VFX Passes: Film grain, glow, vignette -- use sparingly.
Typography: Check kerning, weight, and readability at speed.
Transitions: Are they smooth? Do they feel intentional?

🎬 Sound Design Matters

If you haven't already, this is the week to lock your audio mix. Music, SFX, and voiceover should be balanced. Watch your film with headphones and adjust levels until it feels right.

💬 Fresh Eyes

Post a near-final render in Discord and ask for feedback. You've been staring at this for weeks -- a fresh perspective can catch things you've gone blind to.

Week 6 Deliverable

Cap1_Phase5_StudentName_Polish_YYYYMMDD_v01

Submit a near-final render for review. This should be 90%+ complete. Next week is final delivery.

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