Introduction to Adobe After Effects

3 days

Course Description

After Effects CC software lets you deliver cinematic visual effects and motion graphics faster than ever before with new Global Performance Cache. Extend your creativity with built-in text and shape extrusion, new mask feathering options. Get into motion graphics - come learn what After Effects CC can do!

Who Should Attend

Video, animation and graphics professionals who need a working knowledge of Adobe After Effects CC.

Prerequisites:

Course Outline

Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Motion Graphics

  • After Effects and the RGB Color Mode
  • Frame Size
  • Resolution
  • Pixel Aspect Ratios
  • Working with Native Transparency and Alpha Channels
  • Understanding Frame Rates
  • Time Code Options
  • Interpreting Footage Frame Rates and Field Order

Lesson 2: Getting to Know the Workflow

  • Creating a Project and Importing Footage
  • Creating a Composition and Arranging Layers
  • Adding Effects and Modifying Layer Properties
  • Animating the Composition
  • Previewing Your Work
  • Optimizing Performance in After Effects
  • Rendering and Exporting Your Composition
  • Customizing Workspaces
  • Controlling the Brightness of the User Interface
  • Collaborating in After Effects
  • Finding Resources for Using After Effects

Lesson 3: Creating a Basic Animation Using Effects and Presets

  • Importing Footage using Adobe Bridge
  • Creating a New Ccomposition
  • Working with Imported Photoshop and Illustrator Layers
  • Applying Effects to a Layer
  • Applying an Animation Preset
  • Pre Composing Layers for a New Animation
  • Previewing the Effects
  • Adding Transparency
  • Understanding Keyframing Basics
  • Creating and Working with Keyframes
  • Rendering the Composition

Lesson 4: Other Animation Options

  • Animating using Motion Sketch
  • Using the The Smoother and The Wiggler
  • Using Motion Blur
  • Using the Graph Editor
  • Auto Orienting Motion Paths
  • Splitting and Sequencing Layers
  • Using Adjustment Layers
  • Manipulating Time and Time Remapping

Lesson 5: Animating Text

  • About Text Layers
  • Installing a Font Using Adobe Fonts
  • Creating and Formatting Point Text
  • Animating with Scale Keyframes
  • Using a Text Animation Preset
  • Animating Imported Photoshop Text
  • Animating Type Tracking
  • Animating Text Opacity
  • Animating an Image to Replace Text
  • Using a Text Animator Group
  • Using Per Character 3-D
  • Animating a Layer’s Position
  • Adding Motion Blur

Lesson 6: Working With Shape Layers

  • Creating the Composition
  • Adding a Shape Layer
  • Creating a Self-Animating Shape
  • Duplicating a Shape
  • Creating Custom Shapes with the Pen Tool
  • Positioning Layers with Snapping
  • Animating a Shape
  • Animating using Parenting
  • Using Nulls to Connect Points
  • Previewing the Composition

Lesson 7: Animating a Multimedia Presentation

  • Adjusting Anchor Points
  • Parenting Layers
  • Pre-Composing Layers
  • Keyframing a Motion Path
  • Animating Additional Elements
  • Applying an Effect
  • Using Adjustment Layers
  • Splitting Layers
  • Animating Pre-Composed Layers
  • Animating the Background
  • Adding an Audio Track

Lesson 8: Animating Layers

  • Getting Started
  • Simulating Lighting Changes
  • Duplicating an Animation Using the Pick Whip
  • Using a Track Matte to Confine Animation
  • Animating Using the Corner Pin Effect
  • Simulating a Darkening Sky
  • Retiming the Composition

Lesson 9: Working with Masks

  • About Masks
  • Creating a Mask with the Pen Tool
  • Editing a Mask
  • Feathering the Edges of a Mask
  • Replacing the Content of the Mask
  • Adjusting the Opacity
  • Adding a Shadow
  • Creating a Vignette

Lesson 10: Distorting Objects with the Puppet Tools

  • About the Puppet Tools
  • Adding Position Pins
  • Adding Advanced and Bend Pins
  • Stiffening an Area
  • Animating Pin Positions
  • Using the Puppet Tools to Animate Video
  • Recording Animation

Lesson 11: Performing Color Correction

  • Adjusting Color Balance with Levels
  • Adjusting Color with the Lumetri Color Effect
  • Using Lumetri Scopes
  • Replacing the Background
  • Color-Correcting using Auto Levels
  • Motion Tracking the Clouds
  • Replacing the Sky in the Second Clip
  • Color Grading

Lesson 12: Rendering and Outputting

  • Getting Started
  • About Rendering and Output
  • Exporting Using the Render Queue
  • Creating Templates for the Render Queue
  • Rendering Movies with Adobe Media Encoder